World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/clouded-leopard-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Clouded Leopard, the Forest's Acrobat Cat.

## Briefing
12 amazing facts about the clouded leopard The clouded leopard is a mid-sized, tree-loving wild cat named for the smoky, cloud-shaped patches that drift across its coat. Secretive and rarely filmed in the wild, it hides some of the most surprising adaptations in the entire cat family. Here are twelve, each one verifiable against authoritative sources. For the full profile, see our clouded leopard species guide . 1. There are actually two species For most of the last century all clouded leopards were lumped together. In the mid-2000s, genetic and pelt studies split them into the mainland clouded leopard ( Neofelis nebulosa ) and the Sunda clouded leopard ( Neofelis diardi ) of Borneo and Sumatra. 2. They have the longest canines of any living cat for their size Relative to skull and body, no living cat has longer upper canines, which reach roughly 4 cm. That ratio has earned the species a loose nickname: the modern-day sabre-tooth. 3. Their ankles rotate almost 180 degrees Flexible ankle joints let clouded leopards climb down tree trunks headfirst, a trick most cats cannot manage. 4. They can hang from a branch by their back feet Those same ankles, plus broad paws and a long tail, let them dangle below branches and move along the underside of limbs. 5. The tail is almost as long as the body A tail nearly equal to the head-and-body length works like a tightrope walker's balancing pole high in the canopy. 6. They are among the most arboreal of all cats Short, powerful legs and a low centre of gravity make them superb climbers, though they also hunt and travel on the ground. 7. Their coat is genuine camouflage The large, dark-edged cloud blotches break up the cat's outline against dappled forest light, helping it vanish. 8. They are mostly active at night Clouded leopards are largely nocturnal and intensely shy, which is one reason reliable wild footage is so scarce. 9. They hunt a varied menu Prey includes monkeys, deer, wild pigs, porcupines, squirrels and birds, taken both in trees and on the ground. 10. Cubs are born in small litters A litter is usually one to five cubs, most often two or three, after a gestation of roughly 85 to 110 days. 11. They are not dangerous to people There are no records of clouded leopards posing a meaningful threat to humans; they avoid us entirely. 12. Both species are declining The IUCN lists both as Vulnerable, with the two Sunda subspecies on Borneo and Sumatra each assessed as Endangered, driven down by deforestation and snaring. In Indonesia and Malaysia, keeping forests standing and snare-free is the single most effective protection. WARN funds local partners doing exactly that work. Read the full clouded leopard wildlife guide for IUCN status and conservation context, or support WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species. Read the full Clouded leopard wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/clouded-leopard-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Clouded Leopard, the Forest's Acrobat Cat.

## What is special about a clouded leopard?
Two things stand out. It has the longest canine teeth of any living cat relative to its body size, about 4 cm, and exceptionally flexible ankle joints that let it descend trees headfirst and even hang from branches by its hind feet, making it one of the most acrobatic of all wild cats.

## Are clouded leopards rare?
Yes. Both the mainland and Sunda clouded leopards are assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN with decreasing populations, and the Bornean and Sumatran subspecies are each rated Endangered. They are also elusive and live at low densities, so they are seldom seen in the wild.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/clouded-leopard-vs-snow-leopard-differences): Clouded Leopard vs Snow Leopard: Key Differences Between Two Misnamed Cats.

## Summary
The clouded leopard is a medium-sized forest cat of genus Neofelis that climbs expertly through Asian rainforests, while the snow leopard is a larger Panthera big cat of cold high mountains; despite the shared name, neither is a true leopard.

## Excerpt
Despite the shared name, neither cat is a true leopard, and they differ sharply in size, habitat and looks. Here is how to tell the clouded leopard from the snow leopard.

## Takeaway
Neither cat is a true leopard: the clouded leopard is in genus Neofelis, the snow leopard in Panthera.

## Takeaway
The clouded leopard is medium-sized (about 11.5–26 kg); the snow leopard is the larger, true big cat.

## Takeaway
Clouded leopards live in tropical and subtropical forests; snow leopards live in cold, high mountains.

## Takeaway
Clouded leopards are exceptional climbers with ankles that rotate roughly 180 degrees; snow leopards are ground-dwelling mountain specialists.

## Takeaway
Both are assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with the clouded leopard's island subspecies rated Endangered.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/clouded-leopard-vs-snow-leopard-differences): Clouded Leopard vs Snow Leopard: Key Differences Between Two Misnamed Cats.

## Briefing
Clouded leopard vs snow leopard: how to tell them apart They share the word leopard and a reputation for being elusive, but the clouded leopard and the snow leopard are different animals living very different lives. Confusingly, neither is a true leopard ( Panthera pardus ). Here is a clear, sourced comparison. For a deeper look at one of them, see our clouded leopard species guide . 1. Name versus reality The clouded leopard belongs to its own genus, Neofelis , not to Panthera . The snow leopard is a Panthera cat. So despite the labels, the clouded leopard is not a small leopard and the two are distinct species, each named for its coat rather than its lineage. 2. Size The clouded leopard is medium-sized, weighing roughly 11.5 to 26 kg with a head-and-body length of about 69 to 108 cm. The snow leopard is the larger animal, a true big cat of the high mountains. 3. Habitat This is the clearest split. Clouded leopards live in tropical and subtropical forests, from the Himalayan foothills to Borneo and Sumatra, and are superb climbers. Snow leopards inhabit cold, rugged mountains and high alpine terrain across Central Asia. 4. Coat and markings The clouded leopard wears a smoky grey-to-tan coat patterned with large, dark-edged cloud-shaped blotches. The snow leopard has thick, pale, smoky-grey fur dotted with dark rosettes, insulation for a freezing world. 5. Climbing ability The clouded leopard is one of the most arboreal of all cats, with ankles that rotate roughly 180 degrees so it can climb down headfirst. The snow leopard is a ground-dwelling mountain specialist built for leaping across rock. 6. Conservation status Both clouded leopard species are assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with the Bornean and Sumatran subspecies rated Endangered. The snow leopard is also assessed as Vulnerable. All face habitat loss and illegal hunting. So which is which? If the cat is grey with large cloud-shaped patches, in a forest, and looks like an expert climber, it is a clouded leopard. If it is pale and rosette-spotted on a cold mountain, it is a snow leopard. For the clouded leopard, the front line runs through Indonesian and Malaysian forests, where WARN funds local partners working to keep that habitat intact and snare-free. Read the full clouded leopard wildlife guide for IUCN status and conservation context, or support WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species. Read the full Clouded leopard wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/clouded-leopard-vs-snow-leopard-differences): Clouded Leopard vs Snow Leopard: Key Differences Between Two Misnamed Cats.

## Is a clouded leopard the same as a snow leopard?
No. They are different species living in different habitats. The clouded leopard is a medium-sized forest cat with cloud-shaped coat blotches, while the snow leopard is a larger big cat of cold, high mountains with pale, rosette-marked fur. The clouded leopard is also in a separate genus, Neofelis.

## Is a clouded leopard a real leopard?
Not in the strict sense. The true leopard is Panthera pardus, whereas the clouded leopard belongs to its own genus, Neofelis. It is named for the cloud-shaped patches on its coat rather than for being a kind of leopard.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/clouded-leopard-how-big-strong-acrobatic): How Big, Strong and Acrobatic Is a Clouded Leopard? The Numbers Explained.

## Summary
A clouded leopard is a medium-sized cat weighing about 11.5–26 kg with the longest canines of any living cat for its size (around 4 cm) and ankles that rotate roughly 180 degrees, making it one of the most acrobatic climbers among all cats.

## Excerpt
Clouded leopards weigh about 11.5–26 kg, carry the longest canines of any living cat for their size, and own ankles that swivel 180 degrees. Here are the real figures.

## Takeaway
Clouded leopards weigh roughly 11.5–26 kg (25–57 lb), with a head-and-body length of about 69–108 cm.

## Takeaway
They have the longest canine teeth of any living cat relative to body size, around 4 cm (about 2 inches).

## Takeaway
Ankles that rotate roughly 180 degrees make them one of the most acrobatic climbers among cats.

## Takeaway
In managed care they typically live about 11 years, with some reaching around 17.

## Takeaway
Both species are Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with the island subspecies assessed as Endangered.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/clouded-leopard-how-big-strong-acrobatic): How Big, Strong and Acrobatic Is a Clouded Leopard? The Numbers Explained.

## Briefing
How big, strong and acrobatic is a clouded leopard? The clouded leopard is not a giant among cats, but its body packs some of the most extreme adaptations in the family. Here are the headline numbers, with the caveat that figures vary between the two species and the sexes. For the full profile, see our clouded leopard species guide . How big is a clouded leopard? It is a medium-sized cat, weighing roughly 11.5 to 26 kg (about 25 to 57 lb) depending on species and sex. Head-and-body length runs about 69 to 108 cm, and the tail is nearly as long again, a major part of the animal's total length. How strong is its bite, and those teeth? Relative to its skull and body, the clouded leopard has the longest upper canines of any living cat, reaching around 4 cm, roughly two inches. That dental proportion is so striking that scientists loosely compare the species to the extinct sabre-toothed cats, even though it is far smaller. Combined with powerful jaws, those canines let it tackle prey such as monkeys, deer and wild pigs. How acrobatic is it? This is where the clouded leopard truly stands out. Its ankle joints rotate roughly 180 degrees, letting it climb down trees headfirst, run along the undersides of branches and even hang by its hind feet. A tail almost as long as its body acts as a balancing pole, and broad paws and short, powerful legs complete the climbing toolkit. Few cats come close to its agility in the canopy. How fast or far does it travel? Clouded leopards are ambush hunters and stealthy travellers rather than sprinters, relying on cover and surprise both in the trees and on the ground rather than long chases. Because they are so elusive, fine detail on their movement in the wild remains limited. How long do clouded leopards live? In managed care they commonly reach about 11 years, with some individuals living to around 17. Lifespan in the wild is poorly documented but is generally thought to be shorter. Why strength is no shield For all these adaptations, the clouded leopard is in trouble. Both species are assessed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, and the Bornean and Sumatran subspecies are each rated Endangered, undone not by any rival predator but by forest loss and snares. In Indonesia and Malaysia, WARN funds local partners working to remove snares and keep forests standing. Read the full clouded leopard wildlife guide for IUCN status and conservation context, or support WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species. Read the full Clouded leopard wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/clouded-leopard-how-big-strong-acrobatic): How Big, Strong and Acrobatic Is a Clouded Leopard? The Numbers Explained.

## How big does a clouded leopard get?
Clouded leopards are medium-sized cats. They weigh roughly 11.5 to 26 kg (about 25 to 57 lb) depending on species and sex, with a head-and-body length of about 69 to 108 cm and a tail nearly as long as the body.

## Do clouded leopards really have the longest fangs of any cat?
Relative to body and skull size, yes. Their upper canines reach about 4 cm, the longest of any living cat for its size, which is why they are sometimes called modern-day sabre-tooths even though extinct sabre-toothed cats had far larger teeth in absolute terms.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/golden-lion-tamarin-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Golden Lion Tamarin.

## Summary
The golden lion tamarin is a small, endangered Brazilian monkey famous for its flame-coloured lion-like mane, its near-constant twin births, and a dramatic recovery from fewer than 200 wild animals in the 1960s to roughly 4,800 today.

## Excerpt
From its flame-coloured mane to its almost-always-twin births, the golden lion tamarin is one of the most remarkable little monkeys on Earth. Here are 12 facts worth knowing.

## Takeaway
The golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is a small New World monkey named for its lion-like mane and bright reddish-gold coat.

## Takeaway
It is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, and lives nowhere else in the wild.

## Takeaway
Females almost always give birth to twins, and fathers and older siblings do most of the infant-carrying.

## Takeaway
Wild numbers recovered from fewer than 200 in the 1960s to roughly 4,800 by the 2022 to 2023 census.

## Takeaway
It remains Endangered and CITES Appendix I listed, dependent on restored forest corridors to survive.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/golden-lion-tamarin-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Golden Lion Tamarin.

## Briefing
Meet Brazil's flame-coloured forest monkey Few animals look as improbable as the golden lion tamarin. Roughly the size of a squirrel but cloaked in glowing reddish-gold fur, this tiny primate lives in just one place on the planet and has become a global emblem of what conservation can achieve. Here are 12 facts that capture why it is so extraordinary. For the full profile, see our golden lion tamarin species guide . 1. It is named for its tiny lion's mane A ring of long fur frames its dark, bare face, giving it the look of a miniature lion. The scientific name, Leontopithecus rosalia , literally means "lion monkey." 2. It lives in only one forest on Earth The species is endemic to the lowland Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, and is found nowhere else in the wild. 3. It weighs less than a can of soup Adults tip the scales at just 482 to 680 grams, with a body around 20 to 25 cm long and a tail of 26 to 40 cm. 4. Twins are the rule, not the exception After a gestation of about four and a half months, females almost always give birth to twins, an unusual trait among primates. 5. Dad does most of the carrying Fathers and older siblings haul the infants around on their backs, handing them back to the mother mainly to nurse. 6. It has claws, not nails Unlike most monkeys, tamarins have claw-like nails on most digits, letting them cling to vertical trunks like a squirrel. 7. It "talks" with scent Both sexes scent-mark using glands on the chest, leaving chemical messages that signal territory and breeding status across the dense canopy. 8. It is a tireless omnivore Its menu spans fruit, flowers, nectar and tree gums alongside insects, spiders, snails, small lizards and bird eggs, probed from bark crevices with long, slender fingers. 9. It nearly vanished By the 1960s, fewer than 200 survived in the wild as the Atlantic Forest was cleared. Only around 2% of that forest remains today. 10. It is a conservation comeback story Coordinated breeding, reintroduction and forest restoration lifted wild numbers to roughly 4,800 by the 2022 to 2023 census, earning a 2003 down-listing from Critically Endangered to Endangered. 11. It survived a deadly epidemic A yellow-fever outbreak that began around 2017 killed roughly a third of the wild population before a vaccine, first administered in 2020, helped turn the tide. 12. It still needs connected forest to survive Isolated in scattered fragments, the species depends on replanted corridors that let separated family groups meet and breed. WARN's partner-funded work in Brazil supports exactly this kind of habitat restoration; you can learn more on our habitat protection appeal . Read the full Golden lion tamarin wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/golden-lion-tamarin-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Golden Lion Tamarin.

## What is special about the golden lion tamarin?
It is a tiny, endemic Brazilian monkey with a distinctive lion-like mane and reddish-gold coat. It almost always gives birth to twins, communicates with scent, and has become one of conservation's best-known recovery stories, rebounding from fewer than 200 wild animals to roughly 4,800.

## Where do golden lion tamarins live?
They live only in the lowland Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro state in southeastern Brazil, where they occupy scattered fragments of forest at no more than a few hundred metres above sea level.

## Do golden lion tamarins make good pets?
No. They are endangered wild primates protected under CITES Appendix I, and the illegal pet trade has harmed wild populations. They should only ever be cared for by accredited conservation programmes.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/golden-lion-tamarin-why-endangered-recovery): Why Are Golden Lion Tamarins Endangered — and How Did They Recover?

## Summary
Golden lion tamarins are endangered chiefly because the Atlantic Forest they depend on has been cleared to about 2% of its original extent, but coordinated breeding, reintroduction and forest restoration have lifted wild numbers from fewer than 200 in the 1960s to roughly 4,800 today.

## Excerpt
The golden lion tamarin fell to fewer than 200 wild animals before clawing its way back. Here is why it became endangered and what turned the tide.

## Takeaway
Golden lion tamarins are endangered mainly because of severe Atlantic Forest loss; only about 2% of the original forest remains.

## Takeaway
Fragmentation isolates small groups, while disease, roads and the illegal pet trade add further pressure.

## Takeaway
A 2017 yellow-fever outbreak killed roughly a third of the wild population before vaccination began in 2020.

## Takeaway
Breeding, reintroduction, translocation and forest restoration lifted wild numbers from under 200 to about 4,800 by 2022 to 2023.

## Takeaway
The species was down-listed from Critically Endangered to Endangered in 2003 but still depends on active conservation.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/golden-lion-tamarin-why-endangered-recovery): Why Are Golden Lion Tamarins Endangered — and How Did They Recover?

## Briefing
A monkey that almost disappeared The golden lion tamarin is one of the most celebrated conservation comebacks in the world, but it remains Endangered. Understanding why means looking at the forest it depends on and the threats that still hem it in. For a fuller profile, see our golden lion tamarin species guide . Why is the golden lion tamarin endangered? The single biggest reason is habitat loss. The species lives only in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, one of the most heavily cleared biomes on Earth. Centuries of logging, charcoal production, farming, cattle ranching and urban growth have left only around 2% of the original forest, broken into small, isolated islands. Because tamarins need continuous tree canopy, these fragments trap small groups that cannot mix, raising the risk of inbreeding and local extinction. The IUCN lists the species as Endangered under criterion B1ab(iii), a classification that reflects a tiny, fragmented range rather than a free-falling population. By the 1960s, fewer than 200 animals remained in the wild. What other threats remain? Disease. A yellow-fever epidemic that struck from around 2017 killed roughly a third of the wild population in a matter of months. Roads and fragmentation. Animals are killed crossing gaps between forest patches, and isolated groups struggle to find unrelated mates. Illegal capture. The pet trade still removes animals from the wild despite strict CITES Appendix I protection. How did golden lion tamarins recover? The turnaround came from decades of coordinated work. Accredited zoos built an insurance population through careful breeding, and captive-born animals were reintroduced to the wild. Isolated groups were translocated to safer forest, and large areas were replanted to reconnect fragments. Together these efforts lifted wild numbers high enough to justify the 2003 down-listing from Critically Endangered to Endangered. When yellow fever hit, field teams responded with an emergency vaccination programme, first administering a tamarin-safe vaccine in 2020. By the 2022 to 2023 census, the wild population had climbed back to roughly 4,800, a 31% rise on the earlier baseline, with no monitored population lost to the outbreak. What still needs to happen? The recovery is real but fragile. The species still cannot survive without active management, and its long-term future rests on connectivity: replanting native trees to build corridors so separated family groups can meet, breed and recolonise. WARN channels donations here to Brazilian partners working on forest restoration and wildlife rehabilitation; if you would like to help quietly, our donate page explains how. Read the full Golden lion tamarin wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/golden-lion-tamarin-why-endangered-recovery): Why Are Golden Lion Tamarins Endangered — and How Did They Recover?

## How many golden lion tamarins are left in the wild?
The most recent census, carried out between 2022 and 2023, put the wild population at roughly 4,800, up from fewer than 200 in the 1960s. The species remains Endangered.

## Are golden lion tamarins still endangered?
Yes. They were down-listed from Critically Endangered to Endangered in 2003, but they remain Endangered on the IUCN Red List and depend on ongoing habitat restoration and monitoring to survive.

## What is the biggest threat to golden lion tamarins?
Habitat loss and fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest is the biggest long-term threat. Disease outbreaks such as yellow fever, road deaths and illegal capture for the pet trade add further pressure.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/golden-lion-tamarin-vs-golden-headed-lion-tamarin): Golden Lion Tamarin vs Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin: Key Differences.

## Summary
The golden lion tamarin is uniformly reddish-gold and lives in Rio de Janeiro state, while the golden-headed lion tamarin has a black body with a golden mane and lives in southern Bahia; both are endangered Brazilian primates in the genus Leontopithecus.

## Excerpt
They share a genus, a mane and an endangered status, but the golden lion tamarin and golden-headed lion tamarin are easy to tell apart once you know what to look for.

## Takeaway
The golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is uniformly reddish-gold; the golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) has a black body with a golden mane, limbs and tail base.

## Takeaway
They live in different, non-overlapping parts of Brazil's Atlantic Forest: Rio de Janeiro state versus southern Bahia state.

## Takeaway
Both belong to the genus Leontopithecus, are classified Endangered, and are listed on CITES Appendix I.

## Takeaway
Both are small, tree-dwelling omnivores that usually give birth to twins with shared infant care.

## Takeaway
Because each is restricted to a single region, both depend on protecting connected forest in their own range.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/golden-lion-tamarin-vs-golden-headed-lion-tamarin): Golden Lion Tamarin vs Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin: Key Differences.

## Briefing
Two lion tamarins, often confused The golden lion tamarin and the golden-headed lion tamarin are close cousins in the genus Leontopithecus , and at a glance they can look alike. Look a little closer, though, and the differences are obvious. Here is how to tell them apart. For the full profile of the first species, see our golden lion tamarin species guide . Coat colour is the quickest giveaway The golden lion tamarin ( Leontopithecus rosalia ) is a near-uniform reddish-gold from head to tail. The golden-headed lion tamarin ( Leontopithecus chrysomelas ) is mostly glossy black, with golden fur restricted to its mane, forearms and the base of the tail. If the body is dark and only the "halo" is gold, you are looking at the golden-headed species. They live in different parts of Brazil Both are endemic to Brazil's Atlantic Forest but do not overlap. The golden lion tamarin lives in the lowland forest of Rio de Janeiro state in the southeast. The golden-headed lion tamarin lives far to the north, in southern Bahia state. What they share Genus and family. Both belong to genus Leontopithecus in the marmoset and tamarin family, Callitrichidae. Conservation status. Both are classified Endangered by the IUCN and listed on CITES Appendix I. Lifestyle. Both are small, diurnal, tree-dwelling omnivores that live in cohesive family groups and typically give birth to twins, with shared infant care. Quick comparison table Feature Golden lion tamarin Golden-headed lion tamarin Scientific name Leontopithecus rosalia Leontopithecus chrysomelas Coat Uniform reddish-gold Black body with golden mane, limbs and tail base Range Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil Southern Bahia state, Brazil IUCN status Endangered Endangered CITES Appendix I Appendix I Why the distinction matters Because each species lives in a single, separate region, the loss of forest in one state cannot be offset by the other. Protecting connected habitat in both Rio de Janeiro and Bahia is essential. WARN's partner-funded work supports forest restoration in Brazil; you can read more on our habitat protection appeal . Read the full Golden lion tamarin wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/golden-lion-tamarin-vs-golden-headed-lion-tamarin): Golden Lion Tamarin vs Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin: Key Differences.

## What is the difference between a golden lion tamarin and a golden-headed lion tamarin?
The golden lion tamarin is reddish-gold all over and lives in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The golden-headed lion tamarin has a mostly black body with golden fur on its mane, forearms and tail base, and lives in southern Bahia state. They are separate species that do not share a range.

## Are golden lion tamarins and golden-headed lion tamarins related?
Yes. Both are members of the genus Leontopithecus in the family Callitrichidae, making them close relatives, but they are distinct species adapted to different regions of Brazil's Atlantic Forest.

## Which lion tamarin is more endangered?
Both the golden lion tamarin and the golden-headed lion tamarin are currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and listed on CITES Appendix I, so neither is more threatened by category, though each faces region-specific pressures.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/anaconda-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Green Anaconda, the World's Heaviest Snake.

## Summary
The Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is the world's heaviest snake, a non-venomous South American constrictor whose females exceed 5 metres, that gives live birth in water and was split into two species in 2024.

## Excerpt
From females that dwarf males to live births in water and a surprise 2024 split into two species, here are 12 standout facts about the Green Anaconda.

## Takeaway
The Green Anaconda is the heaviest snake on Earth, with large females approaching 100 kg.

## Takeaway
Females are far larger than males, a clear case of reverse sexual size dimorphism.

## Takeaway
It is non-venomous and kills by constriction, swallowing prey whole.

## Takeaway
Anacondas give live birth in water, producing roughly 20 to 40 independent young per litter.

## Takeaway
In 2024 the species was split, with northern populations named Eunectes akayima.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/anaconda-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Green Anaconda, the World's Heaviest Snake.

## Briefing
The Green Anaconda ( Eunectes murinus ) is the heavyweight champion of the snake world: a silent, semi-aquatic giant that glides through the slow rivers and flooded grasslands of tropical South America. Here are twelve genuinely remarkable facts that explain why this constrictor fascinates scientists and wildlife lovers alike. For the full picture, see our Green Anaconda species guide . The headline facts 1. It is the heaviest snake on Earth No other snake outweighs a big Green Anaconda. Large females can approach 100 kg, and exceptional specimens have been reported far heavier, making bulk, not length, this snake's claim to fame. 2. Females are the giants Green Anacondas show striking reverse sexual size dimorphism: females routinely exceed 5 metres while males average around 3 metres. The largest individuals you read about are almost always female. 3. It kills without venom The Green Anaconda is non-venomous. It ambushes prey, throws coils around it, and tightens with every exhalation until circulation stops, then swallows the animal whole. 4. Its eyes sit on top of its head Eyes and nostrils are set high on the skull, so the snake can lie almost fully submerged while watching the bank, a perfect design for a water ambush predator. Life in the water 5. Water carries its weight On land this giant can barely haul its own bulk, so it spends most of its life half-submerged, letting buoyancy do the heavy lifting. 6. It gives birth to live young in water Anacondas are ovoviviparous: females carry developing young internally for six to seven months and deliver live babies in the water, with roughly 20 to 40 per litter and occasionally many more. 7. Newborns are already huge and on their own Each snakelet is born about 70 to 80 cm long and fends for itself immediately. There is no parental care. 8. It can fast for weeks After a large meal such as a capybara or caiman, a Green Anaconda may not need to eat again for weeks, digesting slowly while it rests. Surprises and conservation 9. It was split into two species in 2024 In February 2024, genetic analysis showed northern populations differ from southern ones by roughly 5.5 percent in their DNA. The northern lineage was named Eunectes akayima , leaving E. murinus as the southern Green Anaconda. 10. Courtship can form a breeding ball Several smaller males may coil around a single giant female at once, a writhing knot known as a breeding ball. 11. It is an apex wetland predator Across its range it tops the food web, taking fish, birds, deer, caimans and capybara, signalling a healthy, intact wetland. 12. Trade is monitored under CITES Demand for its patterned skin and the exotic pet trade is why all anacondas sit on CITES Appendix II. Keeping their wetlands intact is the real key to their future. Protecting these habitats is quiet, partner-led work that a small gift toward habitat protection can help sustain. Read the full Green Anaconda wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/anaconda-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Green Anaconda, the World's Heaviest Snake.

## Is the Green Anaconda the biggest snake in the world?
It is the heaviest snake in the world. The reticulated python can grow longer, but the Green Anaconda is far bulkier and more massive, making it the heaviest by weight.

## Are Green Anacondas dangerous to humans?
They are non-venomous and attacks on people are extremely rare. Very large individuals are powerful constrictors, but anacondas generally avoid humans and are not a common danger.

## How many babies does a Green Anaconda have?
Females typically give birth to about 20 to 40 live young at once, and occasionally many more, each already 70 to 80 cm long and fully independent.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/anaconda-how-big-heaviest-snake-explained): How Big Is a Green Anaconda? The Heaviest Snake on Earth, Explained.

## Summary
A Green Anaconda is the heaviest snake in the world: large females commonly exceed 5 metres and approach 100 kg, far bulkier than any other snake though not the longest.

## Excerpt
Green Anacondas are the heaviest snakes alive. Here is how long and how heavy they really get, why females are so much bigger, and which records are real.

## Takeaway
The Green Anaconda is the heaviest snake on Earth, with verified large females approaching 100 kg.

## Takeaway
Females commonly exceed 5 metres; males average around 3 metres.

## Takeaway
Credible lengths rarely exceed about 6.25 metres, despite exaggerated historical claims.

## Takeaway
Anacondas are heaviest by girth and bulk; the reticulated python is the longest snake.

## Takeaway
Their size fuels demand for skins and pets, so all anacondas are listed on CITES Appendix II.

## Briefing
Ask which snake is the largest and the honest answer depends on whether you mean longest or heaviest. By weight, there is no contest: the Green Anaconda ( Eunectes murinus ) is the heaviest snake on Earth. This explainer breaks down the real numbers and separates record from rumour. For the canonical profile, visit our Green Anaconda species guide . How heavy is a Green Anaconda? Fully grown females typically weigh tens of kilograms, and verified large individuals approach 100 kg. Exceptionally bulky specimens, almost always pregnant females or snakes that have just swallowed a big meal, have been reported well beyond that. What sets the anaconda apart is girth: a relatively short anaconda can outweigh a much longer python because its body is so thick and muscular. How long is a Green Anaconda? Large females commonly exceed 5 metres, while males average around 3 metres. Credible measurements rarely pass about 6.25 metres; historical claims of snakes far longer have never held up to verification and should be treated with caution. Why are females so much bigger? Green Anacondas display reverse sexual size dimorphism, meaning females dwarf males. A larger female can carry more and bigger young, and during courtship several modest-sized males may coil around one giant female in a breeding ball. How does that compare to other big snakes? Heaviest: Green Anaconda, by a wide margin in bulk and girth. Longest: the reticulated python of Southeast Asia edges ahead in length. Bottom line: a roughly 5-metre anaconda can weigh about as much as a python well over 7 metres long. Why size makes them vulnerable That same impressive size drives demand for the snake's large, patterned skin and fuels the exotic pet trade, which is why all anacondas are listed on CITES Appendix II. Protecting the slow wetlands they depend on is the surest way to keep giants like these in the wild, and supporting that quiet habitat protection work helps the local teams doing it. Read the full Green Anaconda wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/anaconda-how-big-heaviest-snake-explained): How Big Is a Green Anaconda? The Heaviest Snake on Earth, Explained.

## What is the heaviest snake in the world?
The Green Anaconda is the heaviest snake in the world. Its thick, muscular body gives it far more mass than longer snakes such as the reticulated python.

## Are Green Anacondas longer than pythons?
Usually no. The reticulated python is generally the longest snake, but the Green Anaconda is much heavier and bulkier, so a shorter anaconda can outweigh a longer python.

## How long does it take a Green Anaconda to reach full size?
Anacondas grow quickly when young and keep growing for years. Females, which reach the greatest sizes, can take several years to approach their full length and weight.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/anaconda-vs-reticulated-python-which-is-biggest): Green Anaconda vs Reticulated Python: Which Snake Is Really the Biggest?

## Summary
The Green Anaconda is the heaviest snake in the world while the reticulated python is the longest, so the anaconda wins on weight and bulk and the python wins on length.

## Excerpt
The Green Anaconda is the heaviest snake and the reticulated python is the longest. Here is how the two giants actually compare, point by point.

## Takeaway
The Green Anaconda is the heaviest snake; the reticulated python is the longest.

## Takeaway
A roughly 5-metre anaconda can weigh as much as a python over 7 metres long.

## Takeaway
Anacondas are semi-aquatic South American snakes that give live birth in water.

## Takeaway
Reticulated pythons are egg-laying snakes of Southeast Asia's forests.

## Takeaway
Both are non-venomous constrictors and both face habitat loss and trade pressure.

## Briefing
It is one of the most-searched questions in the animal world: which is the biggest snake, the Green Anaconda or the reticulated python? The answer hinges on what you mean by big. One wins on weight, the other on length. Here is the clear, point-by-point comparison. For deeper detail on one of the two, see our Green Anaconda species guide . The short answer The Green Anaconda ( Eunectes murinus ) is the heaviest snake on Earth. The reticulated python ( Malayopython reticulatus ) is the longest . Both are non-venomous constrictors, but they are built very differently. Weight and build The anaconda is the bulk champion. Its body is thick, heavily muscled and broad, and large females approach 100 kg. A roughly 5-metre anaconda can weigh about the same as a reticulated python well over 7 metres long, because the python is far more slender for its length. Length The reticulated python takes the length crown. Today's largest credibly measured individuals reach the 7 to 8 metre range, edging past the anaconda, which rarely exceeds about 6.25 metres in verified measurements. Where they live Green Anaconda: slow rivers, swamps and flooded grasslands of tropical South America. Reticulated python: tropical forests and wetlands of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and the Philippines. Hunting and lifestyle The anaconda is strongly semi-aquatic, lying submerged with eyes and nostrils on top of its head to ambush prey at the water's edge. The reticulated python is more at home on land and in trees. Both kill by constriction and swallow prey whole. Other key differences Reproduction: the Green Anaconda gives live birth in water, while reticulated pythons lay eggs. Colour: the anaconda is olive-green with black blotches; the python wears an intricate diamond-like net pattern. Conservation note: in 2024 the Green Anaconda was split, with northern populations named Eunectes akayima . So which is the biggest? If biggest means heaviest and bulkiest, the Green Anaconda wins. If it means longest, the reticulated python does. Both face pressure from habitat loss and the skin and pet trade, and keeping their wetlands and forests intact is what secures their future. That habitat-first work is something a modest gift can quietly support. Read the full Green Anaconda wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/anaconda-vs-reticulated-python-which-is-biggest): Green Anaconda vs Reticulated Python: Which Snake Is Really the Biggest?

## Which is bigger, an anaconda or a python?
It depends on the measure. The Green Anaconda is the heaviest and bulkiest snake, while the reticulated python is the longest. Neither is simply bigger overall.

## Could an anaconda and a reticulated python meet in the wild?
No. Green Anacondas live in South America and reticulated pythons live in Southeast Asia, so the two species never overlap in the wild.

## Is either snake venomous?
No. Both the Green Anaconda and the reticulated python are non-venomous constrictors that kill prey by coiling and squeezing rather than biting with venom.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/himalayan-brown-bear-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Himalayan Brown Bear, the Real Animal Behind the Yeti Legend.

## Summary
The Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) is a sandy-coated, high-altitude subspecies of brown bear from the western Himalayas whose ancient lineage and mountain habitat make it the real animal behind many yeti sightings.

## Excerpt
From a 650,000-year-old lineage to its last stronghold on Pakistan's Deosai Plateau, here are 12 striking facts about the rare Himalayan brown bear.

## Takeaway
The Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) is a high-altitude subspecies of brown bear from the western Himalayas.

## Takeaway
DNA research dates its lineage to a split from other brown bears around 650,000 years ago.

## Takeaway
It is the animal most likely behind many 'yeti' samples, which DNA testing traced to local bears.

## Takeaway
Pakistan's main population survives on the Deosai Plateau, where a 2022 survey counted 66 bears.

## Takeaway
Globally the brown bear is Least Concern, but this subspecies is regarded as Critically Endangered within Pakistan.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/himalayan-brown-bear-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Himalayan Brown Bear, the Real Animal Behind the Yeti Legend.

## Briefing
The pale giant of the roof of the world High on the treeless plateaus of the western Himalayas lives one of the planet's rarest and least-known bears. Sandy-coated, shaggy and built for thin mountain air, the Himalayan brown bear is a creature of extremes — and the genuine animal that very likely inspired centuries of yeti folklore. Here are 12 facts that capture why it deserves so much more attention than it gets. 12 things worth knowing about the Himalayan brown bear It is a subspecies of brown bear. Scientifically named Ursus arctos isabellinus , it was described by naturalist Thomas Horsfield in 1826 and is one of several regional forms of the wide-ranging brown bear. Its lineage is astonishingly ancient. DNA work published in the journal of the Royal Society in 2017 found Himalayan brown bears split from other brown bears roughly 650,000 years ago, isolated by advancing Ice Age glaciers. It is the real "yeti." The same study tested hair and bone samples long attributed to the abominable snowman and traced them straight back to local bears — strong evidence that the legend has a furry, four-legged basis. It lives higher than almost any other bear. Its home ranges between about 3,000 and 5,500 metres, on alpine meadow and cold high-altitude desert where few large mammals can survive. Its coat is the color of sand. The name isabellinus refers to a pale, isabelline reddish-brown — camouflage against scree, dry grass and rock. It is an opportunistic omnivore. Grasses, roots, insects, marmots and other burrowing rodents make up much of the diet, with carrion or the odd sheep taken when available. It hibernates for half the year. To survive brutal winters it dens up, typically from around October until April or May. Cubs are born in the den. Tiny and helpless at birth, cubs stay with their mother for two years or more, which keeps the population growing painfully slowly. It is one of the smaller brown bears. Adults weigh roughly 70–250 kg, yet it is still the largest land mammal across much of its range. Its last real refuge is Deosai. Pakistan's Deosai Plateau in Gilgit-Baltistan holds the country's most viable group, where a 2022 survey counted 66 bears across the park and its buffer valleys. It clings to a fraction of its old range. The bear now occupies only a small remnant of the mountains it once roamed. It is treated as Critically Endangered in Pakistan. Although the brown bear species is Least Concern worldwide, national assessments rate this subspecies as Critically Endangered because so few remain inside the country. For the full picture — taxonomy, range maps and conservation detail — see our Himalayan brown bear species guide . The work of protecting confiscated cubs and the bears of the high country is slow and remote; you can quietly back partner-funded rescue efforts on our donate page . Read the full Himalayan brown bear wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/himalayan-brown-bear-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Himalayan Brown Bear, the Real Animal Behind the Yeti Legend.

## Is the Himalayan brown bear really the yeti?
A 2017 DNA study published by the Royal Society tested samples long attributed to the yeti and matched them to local bears, strongly suggesting that Himalayan brown bears and Asian black bears underlie much of the legend.

## How old is the Himalayan brown bear lineage?
Genetic research indicates it diverged from other brown bears roughly 650,000 years ago, likely isolated by Ice Age glaciers, making it one of the most ancient brown bear lineages.

## Where can you find Himalayan brown bears today?
They survive in scattered high-altitude pockets of the western Himalayas, with their main Pakistani stronghold on the Deosai Plateau in Gilgit-Baltistan.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/himalayan-brown-bear-how-big-how-many-dangerous): How Big Is a Himalayan Brown Bear — and How Many Are Left?

## Summary
A male Himalayan brown bear is about 1.5–2.2 metres long and roughly 70–250 kg, lives around 20–30 years in the wild, and survives in tiny numbers — an estimated 150–200 in Pakistan, where it is regarded as Critically Endangered.

## Excerpt
How large, how long-lived, how many remain and whether they're dangerous: clear, sourced answers to the most-asked questions about the Himalayan brown bear.

## Takeaway
Males reach about 1.5–2.2 m in length and roughly 70–250 kg, larger than females.

## Takeaway
It is one of the smaller brown bear subspecies but the largest land mammal across much of its range.

## Takeaway
In the wild they generally live around 20–30 years, though many cubs die young.

## Takeaway
Pakistan holds an estimated 150–200 bears, with 66 counted around Deosai in a 2022 survey.

## Takeaway
They usually avoid people; most danger involves cornered bears or mothers defending cubs.

## Briefing
The quick answer A male Himalayan brown bear typically measures about 1.5 to 2.2 metres in length and weighs in the rough range of 70 to 250 kg, with males markedly larger than females. It is one of the smaller-bodied brown bear subspecies, yet it remains the largest land mammal across much of its high-altitude range. Numbers are low: Pakistan is thought to hold only around 150 to 200 animals. How big do they get? Males reach roughly 1.5–2.2 metres nose to tail; females are smaller at about 1.4–1.8 metres. Weights vary widely with season and food, spanning around 70 kg in lean individuals to about 250 kg in large, well-fed males before hibernation. Compared with coastal giants like Kodiak bears, the Himalayan subspecies is modest in size — an adaptation, in part, to a sparse mountain diet. How long do they live? Like other brown bears, they generally live around 20 to 30 years in the wild and can live longer in captivity. But survival is precarious: many cubs die in their first years, and slow reproduction means lost animals are replaced only gradually. How many are left? There is no reliable rangewide count, but Pakistan — the heart of the surviving population — is estimated to hold roughly 150 to 200 bears. A 2022 field survey recorded 66 bears in and around Deosai National Park, the subspecies' last stronghold in the country. Because the global brown bear species numbers around 110,000 and is listed as Least Concern, those few hundred Himalayan animals are easily overlooked — yet within Pakistan the subspecies is treated as Critically Endangered. Are they dangerous? They are powerful wild animals and can be dangerous if surprised, cornered or defending cubs. In practice, though, they generally avoid people, and most conflict involves livestock rather than direct attacks on humans. Giving them space and never approaching cubs is the simplest way to stay safe in bear country. For full measurements, taxonomy and range detail, see our Himalayan brown bear species guide . Protecting the last bears of the high plateaus depends on remote, partner-funded fieldwork — something you can quietly support via our donate page . Read the full Himalayan brown bear wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/himalayan-brown-bear-how-big-how-many-dangerous): How Big Is a Himalayan Brown Bear — and How Many Are Left?

## How much does a Himalayan brown bear weigh?
Weights range roughly from 70 kg in lean bears to about 250 kg in large males before hibernation, with males much heavier than females.

## How many Himalayan brown bears are left?
There is no reliable rangewide figure, but Pakistan is thought to hold around 150–200, and a 2022 survey counted 66 in and around Deosai National Park.

## Are Himalayan brown bears dangerous to humans?
They are strong animals that can be dangerous if surprised or defending cubs, but they generally avoid people, and most conflict centres on livestock rather than direct attacks.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/himalayan-brown-bear-why-endangered-and-what-is-being-done): Why Is the Himalayan Brown Bear Endangered — and What's Being Done?

## Summary
The Himalayan brown bear is regarded as Critically Endangered in Pakistan because poaching, the cub pet and 'dancing bear' trade, retaliatory killing over livestock and habitat loss have reduced it to a few hundred isolated animals — though protected sites like Deosai show recovery is possible.

## Excerpt
Poaching, the cub trade and shrinking high-altitude habitat have pushed the Himalayan brown bear to the edge in Pakistan. Here's why — and what gives it hope.

## Takeaway
Globally the brown bear is Least Concern, but the Himalayan subspecies is regarded as Critically Endangered within Pakistan.

## Takeaway
It survives in small, isolated mountain pockets, with Deosai its main stronghold.

## Takeaway
Key threats are poaching, the cub pet and 'dancing bear' trade, retaliatory killing and habitat loss.

## Takeaway
Deosai National Park has helped its bear population recover since 1993, showing protection works.

## Takeaway
Conservation combines safe core habitat, anti-poaching, sanctuary care and reducing conflict with herders.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/himalayan-brown-bear-why-endangered-and-what-is-being-done): Why Is the Himalayan Brown Bear Endangered — and What's Being Done?

## Briefing
The short answer Within Pakistan the Himalayan brown bear is treated as Critically Endangered because it has been reduced to a few hundred animals in small, isolated mountain pockets — squeezed by poaching for body parts, the capture of cubs for the pet and performance trade, retaliatory killing over livestock, and the steady loss of its quiet high-altitude habitat. A species that is common — except where it isn't Brown bears as a species are abundant across the northern hemisphere, with around 110,000 animals worldwide and a global Least Concern rating. But the Himalayan subspecies sits at the southern, most fragile edge of that range. In Pakistan it survives only in scattered subpopulations across Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and adjoining ranges, with the Deosai Plateau holding the most viable group. Low numbers, slow reproduction and the physical isolation of mountain valleys leave each pocket exposed to local extinction — which is why national assessments rate it far more harshly than the worldwide figure suggests. The main threats Poaching for body parts. Bears are killed for fur, claws and organs, feeding an illegal trade that includes bile used in some traditional remedies. The cub trade. Orphaned or stolen cubs are especially valuable alive, trafficked as exotic pets and, in parts of South Asia, exploited as 'dancing bears' or baiting animals — a cruel use that condemns the animal to a short, painful life. Conflict with herders. Bears that prey on sheep and goats are sometimes killed in retaliation. Habitat loss. Expanding grazing, infrastructure and disturbance steadily shrink the undisturbed high ground the bears need. What's being done — and where there is hope There is real cause for optimism. Deosai National Park, notified in 1993 when the population was close to collapse, has since allowed bear numbers there to recover — proof that protected core habitat works. Effective conservation combines several efforts at once: keeping that core habitat safe and undisturbed, anti-poaching patrols, tighter enforcement against the trade in cubs and body parts, lifelong sanctuary care for confiscated animals that can never return to the wild, and defusing conflict with herders through guarding, compensation and education so that a bear near livestock is reported rather than shot. Each depends on trained local teams working in some of the most remote mountains on Earth. Learn more in our Himalayan brown bear species guide . Because Pakistan is the heart of this bear's surviving range, it is also where on-the-ground partners can act most directly — and where modest, partner-funded support goes furthest. You can quietly help on our donate page . Read the full Himalayan brown bear wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/himalayan-brown-bear-why-endangered-and-what-is-being-done): Why Is the Himalayan Brown Bear Endangered — and What's Being Done?

## Why is the Himalayan brown bear endangered if brown bears are common?
The brown bear species is abundant worldwide, but the Himalayan subspecies sits at the fragile southern edge of that range and is down to a few hundred isolated animals in Pakistan, so national assessments treat it as Critically Endangered.

## What is the biggest threat to the Himalayan brown bear?
Human pressure dominates: poaching for body parts, the capture of cubs for the pet and 'dancing bear' trade, retaliatory killing over livestock, and the loss and fragmentation of high-altitude habitat.

## Is the Himalayan brown bear population recovering anywhere?
Yes — in Deosai National Park, protected since 1993, the bear population has recovered from near-collapse, showing that safe core habitat and enforcement can work.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/maned-wolf-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Maned Wolf, the 'Fox on Stilts'.

## Summary
The maned wolf is the tallest wild dog on Earth — a long-legged, reddish 'fox on stilts' native to South America's Cerrado that is neither a true wolf nor a fox, eats around 50% fruit, and is listed as Near Threatened with most of its ~17,000 mature individuals in Brazil.

## Excerpt
It is not a wolf, not a fox, and it loves fruit. Meet the maned wolf — the tallest wild dog on Earth and the spindly-legged icon of Brazil's grasslands.

## Takeaway
The maned wolf is the tallest wild canid on Earth, standing up to ~110 cm at the shoulder but weighing only 20–30 kg.

## Takeaway
It is neither a wolf nor a fox — it is the only living species in the genus Chrysocyon.

## Takeaway
About half its diet is fruit, especially the tomato-like lobeira or 'wolf's fruit.'

## Takeaway
More than 90% of the roughly 17,000 mature individuals live in Brazil's Cerrado savanna.

## Takeaway
The IUCN lists it as Near Threatened, with habitat loss and roadkill among the main threats.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/maned-wolf-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Maned Wolf, the 'Fox on Stilts'.

## Briefing
Meet the strangest canid you have never seen Tall, russet and improbably leggy, the maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ) looks like a red fox that was stretched on stilts. It glides almost silently through the tall grass of central South America — and almost everything about it defies expectation. Here are twelve facts that make it one of the most unusual members of the dog family. 1. It is the tallest wild dog on Earth A maned wolf stands up to roughly 110 cm (about 3.5 feet) at the shoulder — taller than a grey wolf — yet tips the scales at only 20–30 kg. 2. It is neither a wolf nor a fox Despite the name and the fox-like face, it is the sole living species in the genus Chrysocyon , with no close living relatives. 3. Those long legs are grass-goggles Its disproportionately long limbs let it see over and stride through tall savanna grass — function, not fashion, behind the 'fox on stilts' nickname. 4. About half its diet is fruit It is a true omnivore. Roughly 50% of what it eats is fruit, especially the tomato-like lobeira , or 'wolf's fruit.' 5. Its urine smells like skunk — or cannabis The scent is so pungent that staff at a Dutch zoo once investigated a maned wolf enclosure as a suspected cannabis leak. 6. It hunts by tapping the ground To flush hidden prey, a wolf rotates its huge ears to locate the rustle, then taps a forefoot on the soil before pouncing. 7. It 'roar-barks' across the savanna A deep, far-carrying roar-bark lets widely spaced individuals stay in contact across open country. 8. Pairs share land but hunt alone A monogamous pair defends a territory of around 30 square kilometres, yet the two animals usually forage separately rather than as a pack. 9. Brazil is its stronghold More than 90% of all maned wolves live in Brazil, where the species is the flagship mammal of the Cerrado savanna. 10. Pups are born almost black After about 65 days' gestation, litters of two to three dark-coated pups arrive, lightening to that famous red as they grow. 11. There are only about 17,000 left The IUCN's 2015 assessment estimated roughly 17,000 mature individuals and lists the species as Near Threatened. 12. Roads, not predators, are a leading killer As farmland fragments the Cerrado, vehicle collisions have become one of the biggest causes of death. Want the full picture — biology, behaviour and conservation? Read our complete maned wolf species guide . Brazil is one of the countries where our partner-funded teams work, and you can quietly back that effort through our habitat protection appeal . Read the full Maned wolf wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/maned-wolf-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Maned Wolf, the 'Fox on Stilts'.

## Is the maned wolf actually a wolf?
No. Despite the name it is neither a true wolf nor a fox. It is the only living species in the genus Chrysocyon and has no close living relatives within the dog family.

## Why does the maned wolf have such long legs?
Its long legs are an adaptation for life in tall grass, letting it see over and move efficiently through the Cerrado savanna — which is why it is nicknamed the 'fox on stilts.'

## Are maned wolves dangerous to people?
No. Maned wolves are shy and solitary and are not considered a threat to humans. They avoid people, though they occasionally take poultry, which can bring them into conflict with farmers.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/maned-wolf-how-big-tallest-wild-dog): How Big Is a Maned Wolf? Meet the Tallest Wild Dog on Earth.

## Summary
A maned wolf stands up to about 110 cm (3.5 feet) at the shoulder, making it the tallest wild canid on Earth, yet it weighs only 20–30 kg (44–66 lb) — its size is mostly in its long legs, an adaptation for life in tall grass rather than a sign of strength.

## Excerpt
Taller at the shoulder than a grey wolf, yet barely heavier than a medium dog — here is exactly how big the maned wolf gets, and why its measurements are so surprising.

## Takeaway
The maned wolf stands up to ~110 cm (about 3.5 feet) at the shoulder, making it the tallest wild dog on Earth.

## Takeaway
It weighs only 20–30 kg (44–66 lb) — light for its height, similar to a medium-large dog.

## Takeaway
Its long legs are an adaptation for seeing over and moving through tall Cerrado grass, not a sign of strength.

## Takeaway
Head-and-body length is around 100 cm, with a tail of about 45 cm.

## Takeaway
Despite its height, the maned wolf is shy, solitary and harmless to humans.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/maned-wolf-how-big-tallest-wild-dog): How Big Is a Maned Wolf? Meet the Tallest Wild Dog on Earth.

## Briefing
How big is a maned wolf? The maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ) is the tallest wild canid in the world and the largest in South America. It stands up to about 110 cm (roughly 43 inches, or 3.5 feet) at the shoulder, with a head-and-body length near 100 cm and a tail adding around another 45 cm. Yet for all that height it is remarkably light, weighing just 20–30 kg (44–66 lb). Taller than a grey wolf, lighter than you would think That combination is what makes its size so striking. A grey wolf can outweigh a maned wolf several times over, but the maned wolf usually stands taller at the shoulder. The illusion of bulk is mostly leg: its slender black limbs are exceptionally long relative to its body, giving it the silhouette that earned the nickname 'fox on stilts.' Why is it so leggy? Those legs are not decoration. The Cerrado — the tropical savanna of central South America where the species lives — is dominated by tall grasses that can hide prey and obscure sightlines. Long legs raise the wolf's eyes and ears above the grass and let it cover ground efficiently as it patrols a large territory. The height is a habitat adaptation, not a sign of power: the maned wolf is built for spotting and stalking small prey, not for overpowering large game. How its measurements compare Shoulder height: up to ~110 cm (43 in) — the tallest of any wild dog. Weight: 20–30 kg (44–66 lb), similar to a medium-large domestic dog. Body length: ~100 cm head-and-body, plus a ~45 cm tail. Build: light and long-limbed, adapted for grassland, not for chasing big prey. Does big mean dangerous? No. For all its height, the maned wolf is shy, solitary and harmless to people. It is not a threat to humans and avoids contact, feeding largely on fruit and small animals rather than livestock-sized prey. For a full breakdown of its biology, range and conservation status, see our maned wolf species guide . Brazil holds most of the world's population and is one of the countries where our partner-funded teams operate — you can support that work through our habitat protection appeal . Read the full Maned wolf wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/maned-wolf-how-big-tallest-wild-dog): How Big Is a Maned Wolf? Meet the Tallest Wild Dog on Earth.

## Is a maned wolf bigger than a grey wolf?
It is usually taller at the shoulder than a grey wolf, but far lighter — a maned wolf weighs only 20–30 kg, while grey wolves are typically much heavier. The maned wolf's height comes mainly from its unusually long legs.

## How tall is a maned wolf in feet?
Up to about 3.5 feet (110 cm) at the shoulder, which makes it the tallest of all wild dogs.

## How much does a maned wolf weigh?
Adults weigh between 20 and 30 kg (44–66 lb), comparable to a medium-large domestic dog despite their greater height.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/maned-wolf-what-do-they-eat-diet): What Do Maned Wolves Eat? Inside the Diet of the Fruit-Loving 'Wolf'.

## Summary
Maned wolves are omnivores: about half their diet is fruit — especially the tomato-like lobeira or 'wolf's fruit' — and the other half is small prey such as rodents, rabbits, armadillos, birds, reptiles and insects, which they hunt alone in the tall grass.

## Excerpt
About half of a maned wolf's diet is fruit — making this long-legged canid one of the most surprising omnivores in the dog family. Here is what is really on the menu.

## Takeaway
Maned wolves are omnivores, with roughly half their diet made up of fruit.

## Takeaway
Their favourite food is the lobeira, or 'wolf's fruit,' a tomato-like plant they help disperse as seeds.

## Takeaway
The animal half of the diet is small prey: rodents, rabbits, armadillos, birds, reptiles and insects.

## Takeaway
They forage alone, locating prey by ear and tapping the ground to flush it before pouncing.

## Takeaway
Because they depend on wild fruit, an intact Cerrado is essential to their survival.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/maned-wolf-what-do-they-eat-diet): What Do Maned Wolves Eat? Inside the Diet of the Fruit-Loving 'Wolf'.

## Briefing
What do maned wolves eat? For an animal called a wolf, the maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ) has an unexpectedly gentle menu. It is a true omnivore, and roughly half of everything it eats is fruit. The rest is made up of small animals it hunts in the grass — which makes it one of the most fruit-dependent members of the entire dog family. Fruit is half the diet Around 50% of a maned wolf's diet is plant material, overwhelmingly fruit. Its single most important food is the lobeira ( Solanum lycocarpum ), a tomato-like fruit so closely tied to the species that its common name translates as 'wolf's fruit.' By eating it across large territories, maned wolves act as seed dispersers, spreading the plant through the savanna in their droppings. The animal half of the menu The other roughly half is meat — but small, savanna-sized meat. A maned wolf takes rodents, rabbits, armadillos, birds, reptiles, frogs and insects. It does not hunt in packs or chase large prey; instead it forages alone, using a hunting style suited to a solitary animal in tall grass. How it hunts Rather than running prey down, the maned wolf relies on stealth and its remarkable senses. It swivels its large ears to pinpoint the rustle of a hidden animal, then taps a forefoot on the ground to startle the prey into moving before pouncing. Its long legs help it stay raised above the grass while it tracks the faint sounds below. Why its diet matters for conservation The maned wolf's reliance on wild fruit ties it tightly to an intact Cerrado. As savanna is converted to soy, sugarcane and pasture, both its fruit sources and its hunting grounds shrink, and animals are pushed toward farmland — sometimes taking poultry and coming into conflict with people. Protecting the food web that feeds the wolf means protecting the grassland itself. About 50% fruit — especially the lobeira or 'wolf's fruit.' About 50% animal prey — rodents, rabbits, armadillos, birds, reptiles and insects. Solitary forager — hunts alone, not in packs. Seed disperser — spreads lobeira seeds across the Cerrado. Curious about the rest of its biology and conservation? Read our full maned wolf species guide . Keeping the Cerrado intact is exactly the kind of work our partner-funded teams in Brazil support — you can help quietly through our habitat protection appeal . Read the full Maned wolf wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/maned-wolf-what-do-they-eat-diet): What Do Maned Wolves Eat? Inside the Diet of the Fruit-Loving 'Wolf'.

## Do maned wolves really eat fruit?
Yes. Around half of a maned wolf's diet is fruit, making it one of the most fruit-dependent members of the dog family. Its favourite is the lobeira, a tomato-like fruit known as 'wolf's fruit.'

## What is the maned wolf's favourite food?
The lobeira (Solanum lycocarpum), a tomato-like fruit so strongly associated with the species that its name means 'wolf's fruit.' Maned wolves help spread its seeds across the savanna.

## Do maned wolves hunt in packs?
No. Maned wolves are solitary foragers. A breeding pair may share a territory, but they typically hunt alone for small prey rather than cooperating as a pack.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/dugong-amazing-facts-sea-cow): 12 Amazing Facts About the Dugong, the Ocean's Only Vegetarian Sea Cow.

## Summary
The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large, plant-eating marine mammal of the order Sirenia — the only marine mammal that lives almost entirely on seagrass, reaching about 3 metres long, living up to roughly 70 years, and the last surviving member of its family.

## Excerpt
From mermaid myths to tonnes of seagrass and 70-year lifespans, here are 12 remarkable facts about the dugong, the only marine mammal that lives entirely on plants.

## Takeaway
The dugong is the only marine mammal that feeds almost entirely on plants — seagrass — and the sole surviving member of the family Dugongidae.

## Takeaway
Dugongs reach about 3 metres long, typically weigh 250–400 kg, and can live around 70 years (oldest recorded: 73).

## Takeaway
They have a dolphin-like fluked tail and a downturned, bristled snout built for grazing the seabed.

## Takeaway
Slow breeding (one calf every few years after 13–15 months' gestation) makes them very slow to recover from losses.

## Takeaway
The IUCN Red List rates the dugong Vulnerable with a decreasing population trend.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/dugong-amazing-facts-sea-cow): 12 Amazing Facts About the Dugong, the Ocean's Only Vegetarian Sea Cow.

## Briefing
Meet the dugong: the sea's gentlest grazer The dugong ( Dugong dugon ) is one of the strangest and most charming animals in the ocean: a barrel-bodied, plant-eating mammal that spends its whole life at sea, grazing meadows of seagrass in the warm shallows of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the last surviving member of its entire family, and it has been mistaken for a mermaid for as long as sailors have crossed its path. Here are twelve facts that capture why this gentle giant matters — and why it needs our help. 12 amazing dugong facts It is the only truly vegetarian marine mammal. The dugong feeds almost entirely on seagrass, making it the single herbivore among the world's sea mammals. It is the last of its line. The dugong is the only living species in the family Dugongidae — every close relative is extinct. It probably inspired mermaid legends. Its order, Sirenia, is named after the Sirens of Greek myth; sailors really did mistake these surfacing grazers for "ladies of the sea." It can live around 70 years. The oldest reliably aged dugong was 73 — older than many of the people working to save the species. It eats enormous amounts of plants. An adult can consume tens of kilograms of fresh seagrass every day, uprooting whole plants and leaving distinctive feeding trails across the seabed. It grows to about 3 metres long. Most weigh 250–400 kg, but exceptional individuals have topped 1,000 kg. It has a dolphin-like tail. Unlike its manatee cousins' rounded paddle, the dugong sports a fluked, dolphin-style tail. Its snout is a built-in plough. A sharply downturned, bristled muzzle lets it root seagrass straight off the seabed. It is a slow mover. Dugongs cruise at roughly 10 km/h and surface every few minutes to breathe. It breeds very slowly. Females carry a single calf for 13–15 months and may wait several years between births. It is loosely related to elephants. Sirenians and elephants share ancient common ancestry on the mammal family tree. It is globally Vulnerable. The IUCN Red List rates the dugong Vulnerable with a decreasing population trend. Why these facts matter Each of these quirks — the slow breeding, the single diet, the dependence on shallow coastal meadows — is also a vulnerability. A dugong that lives for decades and raises few calves cannot bounce back quickly from losses to fishing nets or vanishing seagrass. You can explore the full story in our dugong species guide , and the partner teams supported through a small gift to WARN help protect the coastal meadows these animals cannot live without. Read the full Dugong wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/dugong-amazing-facts-sea-cow): 12 Amazing Facts About the Dugong, the Ocean's Only Vegetarian Sea Cow.

## Is the dugong the same as a manatee?
No. Dugongs and manatees are both sea cows in the order Sirenia, but they belong to different families. The clearest difference is the tail: a dugong has a fluked, dolphin-like tail, while a manatee has a broad, rounded paddle. Dugongs are strictly marine, whereas manatees also use estuaries and fresh water.

## Why is the dugong linked to mermaid legends?
Dugongs belong to the order Sirenia, named after the Sirens of Greek myth. Their habit of surfacing in coastal shallows, and the way females cradle their calves, led sailors over the centuries to mistake them for mermaids or "ladies of the sea."

## How long do dugongs live?
Dugongs are long-lived, commonly reaching around 70 years, with the oldest reliably aged individual recorded at 73. Their long lifespan and slow breeding mean every adult is important to the population.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/dugong-vs-manatee-key-differences): Dugong vs Manatee: How to Tell the Two Sea Cows Apart.

## Summary
Dugongs and manatees are both sea cows in the order Sirenia, but a dugong has a fluked, dolphin-like tail, a downturned snout and lives only in the seas of the Indo-West Pacific, while a manatee has a broad paddle tail and also uses estuaries and fresh water in the Atlantic.

## Excerpt
Dugongs and manatees look almost identical at a glance, but their tails, snouts, diets and home waters tell them apart. Here is a clear, fact-checked guide.

## Takeaway
The fastest way to tell them apart is the tail: dugongs have a fluked, dolphin-like tail; manatees have a broad, rounded paddle.

## Takeaway
Dugongs are strictly marine and eat almost only seagrass; manatees use marine, estuarine and freshwater habitats and also eat freshwater plants.

## Takeaway
Dugongs live across the Indo-West Pacific (~40 countries); manatees live in the Atlantic, around the Americas and West Africa.

## Takeaway
Dugongs belong to family Dugongidae and are its only living species; manatees belong to family Trichechidae.

## Takeaway
Both are slow-breeding sea cows threatened by fishing nets, boat strikes and habitat loss.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/dugong-vs-manatee-key-differences): Dugong vs Manatee: How to Tell the Two Sea Cows Apart.

## Briefing
Dugong vs manatee: same family tree, different animals Dugongs and manatees are both "sea cows" — slow, rotund, plant-eating marine mammals in the order Sirenia. They are close enough that people regularly confuse them, but a handful of features makes them easy to tell apart once you know what to look for. The dugong ( Dugong dugon ) is the only living member of the family Dugongidae, while the three manatee species belong to the family Trichechidae. The quickest way to tell them apart: the tail If you can see the tail, you have your answer. A dugong has a fluked, dolphin-like tail with a notch in the middle. A manatee has a single broad, rounded, paddle-shaped tail. This is the single most reliable field difference between the two. Five more differences that matter Snout. The dugong's muzzle is sharply downturned and bristled — a tool for ploughing seagrass off the seabed. A manatee's snout is shorter and less steeply angled. Diet. Dugongs are strict seagrass specialists; manatees graze seagrass but also browse freshwater plants. Habitat. Dugongs are strictly marine, sticking to shallow coastal seas. Manatees move freely between marine, estuarine and freshwater habitats, including rivers and springs. Range. Dugongs live across the Indo-West Pacific, spanning roughly 40 countries. Manatees live in the Atlantic — the Americas and West Africa. Teeth. Adult male dugongs grow short tusks (modified incisors); manatees do not, but continuously replace their cheek teeth throughout life. Comparison table Family: Dugong — Dugongidae; Manatee — Trichechidae Tail: Dugong — fluked, dolphin-like; Manatee — broad, rounded paddle Habitat: Dugong — strictly marine; Manatee — marine, estuarine and freshwater Range: Dugong — Indo-West Pacific; Manatee — Atlantic (Americas and West Africa) One thing they share: they need our help Both sea cows are slow breeders that depend on healthy underwater meadows, and both are threatened by fishing gear, boat strikes and habitat loss. The dugong is rated Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List with a decreasing trend. For the full picture on the dugong, see our dugong species guide ; the local partner teams backed by WARN work to protect the coastal seagrass these animals graze. Read the full Dugong wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/dugong-vs-manatee-key-differences): Dugong vs Manatee: How to Tell the Two Sea Cows Apart.

## What is the main difference between a dugong and a manatee?
The clearest difference is the tail. A dugong has a fluked, notched tail like a dolphin's, while a manatee has a single broad, rounded paddle. They also differ in snout shape, diet and habitat: dugongs are strictly marine seagrass specialists, while manatees also use estuaries and fresh water and eat freshwater plants.

## Are dugongs and manatees related?
Yes. Both belong to the order Sirenia, the group known as sea cows, but they sit in different families — dugongs in Dugongidae and manatees in Trichechidae. The dugong is the only living member of its family.

## Do dugongs and manatees live in the same places?
No. Dugongs live across the Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa to Australia and the Pacific islands. Manatees live in the Atlantic — around the Americas and West Africa — and the two groups' ranges do not overlap.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/dugong-why-endangered-and-what-is-being-done): Why Are Dugongs Disappearing — and What's Being Done to Save Them?

## Summary
Dugongs are declining mainly because gillnet bycatch drowns them and the seagrass meadows they feed on are being destroyed; rated globally Vulnerable, they are now functionally extinct in China and critically endangered in East Africa, and conservation focuses on protecting seagrass, reducing entanglement and supporting local coastal patrols.

## Excerpt
Dugongs are vanishing from waters where they once thrived, declared functionally extinct in China and critically endangered in East Africa. Here's why — and the work that offers hope.

## Takeaway
The dugong is globally Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List with a decreasing trend, but local risk is far higher in many regions.

## Takeaway
Researchers concluded in 2022 that the dugong is functionally extinct in China, with no confirmed sightings there since 2008.

## Takeaway
The species is rated Critically Endangered in East Africa and Japan's Nansei Islands, and Endangered in New Caledonia; northern Australia remains a stronghold.

## Takeaway
The biggest threats are gillnet bycatch and the loss of the seagrass meadows dugongs depend on.

## Takeaway
Slow breeding — one calf every few years after a 13–15 month pregnancy — means populations recover very slowly from losses.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/dugong-why-endangered-and-what-is-being-done): Why Are Dugongs Disappearing — and What's Being Done to Save Them?

## Briefing
A gentle grazer in trouble The dugong ( Dugong dugon ) is rated Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a population that is decreasing. But that single global label hides a far harsher picture. In 2022 researchers concluded the dugong is functionally extinct in the waters of China , with no confirmed sightings there since 2008 — the first functional extinction of a large mammal in China's coastal seas. Regional assessments rate the species Critically Endangered in East Africa and around Japan's Nansei Islands, and Endangered in New Caledonia. Only a few strongholds, notably northern Australia and the Persian Gulf, remain relatively secure. Why are dugongs endangered? Two pressures matter most across the dugong's range, and they often strike together: Fishing bycatch. Gillnets set in shallow coastal waters drown dugongs that surface to breathe. Because the animals are air-breathing mammals, even a short entanglement can be fatal, and calves and juveniles are frequently among the dead. Seagrass loss. Dugongs cannot survive without the underwater meadows they graze, and those meadows are being degraded by destructive fishing, coastal development, sediment from land clearing, and pollution. Lose the seagrass, and you lose the dugong. Boat strikes, hunting and pollution add further pressure. And because dugongs are long-lived and breed slowly — a single calf every few years after a 13–15 month pregnancy — populations recover painfully slowly, so even modest annual losses can tip a local group into long-term decline. Why it isn't only about dugongs The seagrass meadows that feed dugongs also shelter fish nurseries and lock away a disproportionate share of the ocean's carbon for the area they cover. Protecting seagrass for dugongs therefore protects fisheries and helps the climate too — a rare case where saving one species pays dividends across an entire ecosystem. What's being done — and where there's hope Saving dugongs is less about rescuing individuals and more about protecting their meadows and keeping nets out of their path. The most effective work combines community-based patrols that deter destructive fishing and reduce gillnet entanglement, seagrass mapping and restoration, rapid response to stranded or orphaned calves, and education so coastal fishers and tourists understand how fragile these animals are. Because dugongs range across some 40 countries, lasting protection depends on local teams working meadow by meadow, backed by national protections and the international CITES trade ban. How you can help In Indonesia and Malaysia, dugongs cling on in small, scattered groups where a single gillnet can undo years of slow recovery. You can learn more in our dugong species guide , and a gift to WARN helps fund the local partner teams patrolling these coasts and protecting the seagrass dugongs depend on. Read the full Dugong wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/dugong-why-endangered-and-what-is-being-done): Why Are Dugongs Disappearing — and What's Being Done to Save Them?

## Are dugongs endangered?
The dugong is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List with a decreasing population trend. That global rating hides higher local risk: the species is assessed as Critically Endangered in East Africa and Japan's Nansei Islands, Endangered in New Caledonia, and was declared functionally extinct in Chinese waters in 2022.

## What is the biggest threat to dugongs?
The two greatest threats are accidental capture in fishing gear — especially gillnets set in shallow coastal water, which drown dugongs — and the loss of the seagrass meadows they depend on for food. Boat strikes, hunting and pollution add further pressure.

## What is being done to save dugongs?
Conservation focuses on protecting and restoring seagrass meadows, reducing gillnet entanglement through community-based patrols, responding to stranded or orphaned calves, and educating coastal communities. Because dugongs range across about 40 countries, protection depends on local teams supported by national laws and the international CITES trade ban.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/working-donkey-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Working Donkey, the Quiet Engine of the Developing World.

## Summary
The working donkey (Equus africanus asinus) is a domesticated animal kept for about 5,000 years to carry loads and pull carts; around 50 million exist worldwide, most in Asia and Africa, and while the species is abundant, individual working donkeys often suffer from overloading and limited veterinary care.

## Excerpt
From 5,000 years of service to a desert-built body that hides pain, here are 12 facts about the working donkey and the welfare story behind 50 million of them.

## Takeaway
The working donkey (Equus africanus asinus) has served humans for about 5,000 years and now numbers around 50 million worldwide.

## Takeaway
Its wild ancestor, the African wild ass, is Critically Endangered with perhaps 200 or fewer mature individuals left.

## Takeaway
Pakistan holds about 5.9 million donkeys, one of the largest and still-growing national populations.

## Takeaway
In good conditions donkeys live 30-50 years, but working donkeys in poorer regions often reach only 12-15 years.

## Takeaway
About 87% of donkeys in a 2022 Pakistan study carried more than half their body weight, driving preventable harness sores and injuries.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/working-donkey-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Working Donkey, the Quiet Engine of the Developing World.

## Briefing
The most useful animal you rarely think about The working donkey ( Equus africanus asinus ) is one of the most quietly important animals on Earth. Around 50 million of them carry water, haul bricks, pull carts and turn mills across the lower-income regions of Asia and Africa, where a single donkey can be the difference between a family's income and hardship. Here are twelve facts that show why this stoic animal deserves far more attention than it gets. For the full picture, see our working donkey species guide . 1. It has been working for humans for about 5,000 years The domestic donkey descends from the African wild ass and was first tamed in north-east Africa roughly five millennia ago, making it one of humanity's oldest pack animals. 2. Its wild ancestor is almost extinct While donkeys are abundant, the African wild ass ( Equus africanus ) they came from is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, with perhaps 200 or fewer mature individuals left in the Horn of Africa. 3. There are about 50 million worldwide Most live in low-income parts of Asia and Africa. Pakistan alone is home to around 5.9 million, one of the largest national populations and still growing. 4. It is built for the desert Donkeys evolved in dry uplands, so they tolerate drought, are remarkably sure-footed, and can digest coarse, fibrous forage that would not sustain a horse. 5. Stubbornness is actually caution Unlike a horse, a frightened donkey tends not to bolt but to stop and assess. What looks like obstinacy is really careful risk-assessment, and it is why donkeys make such steady pack animals. 6. It hides pain extremely well Donkeys are stoic by nature and mask illness, lameness and dental trouble. A donkey that looks "fine" may be carrying an untreated wound, which is exactly why their welfare problems so often go unnoticed. 7. It forms deep bonds Donkeys can form lifelong attachments to a companion, and separating bonded pairs can cause real distress. 8. A baby is a foal A female donkey is a jenny, a male is a jack, and a group is a drove or herd. A jenny carries a single foal for about 12 months. 9. It can live for decades In good conditions a donkey can live 30 to 50 years, but working donkeys in poorer regions often reach only 12 to 15 because of overwork and limited veterinary care. 10. Many carry far too much In a 2022 study of working donkeys in Pakistan, about 87% carried more than half their own body weight, and a quarter carried over 90% of it. 11. Brick work takes a toll Donkeys used to move bricks were roughly 2.5 times more likely to have moderate-to-deep skin lesions than other working donkeys, largely from ill-fitting harnesses. 12. Most of its suffering is preventable Properly padded harnesses, sensible load limits, water, shade and basic veterinary care prevent the vast majority of harm. WARN's partner-funded clinics in Pakistan focus on exactly this. If the story moves you, you can quietly support working-animal welfare . Read the full Donkey wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/working-donkey-12-amazing-facts): 12 Amazing Facts About the Working Donkey, the Quiet Engine of the Developing World.

## How long do working donkeys live?
A donkey can live 30 to 50 years in good conditions, but working donkeys in low-income regions often have a life expectancy of just 12 to 15 years because of overwork, poor nutrition, untreated injuries and limited veterinary care.

## Are donkeys really stubborn?
Not in the way people assume. A donkey has a strong self-preservation instinct, so rather than flee from danger like a horse it stops to assess the situation. That hesitation is often misread as stubbornness, when it is actually careful caution.

## What is a baby donkey called?
A baby donkey is a foal. A female is a jenny (or jennet), a male is a jack, and a group of donkeys is usually called a drove or a herd.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/working-donkey-vs-mule-vs-horse-differences): Donkey vs Mule vs Horse: Key Differences Explained.

## Summary
A donkey is a domesticated descendant of the African wild ass (62 chromosomes), a horse is a separate equine species (64 chromosomes), and a mule is their hybrid offspring (63 chromosomes) that is almost always sterile; donkeys are smaller, hardier, longer-lived and need lower-sugar forage than horses.

## Excerpt
Donkeys, mules and horses look related for good reason, but they differ in chromosomes, temperament, diet and lifespan. Here is a clear, accurate breakdown.

## Takeaway
Donkeys, mules and horses all belong to the genus Equus, but a donkey (Equus africanus asinus) is a distinct domesticated subspecies.

## Takeaway
Horses have 64 chromosomes and donkeys 62; a mule inherits 63, which is why mules are almost always sterile.

## Takeaway
A mule is the hybrid of a male donkey and a female horse, not a species in its own right.

## Takeaway
Donkeys need high-fibre, low-sugar forage, and the rich feed suited to horses can cause obesity and laminitis in donkeys.

## Takeaway
Donkeys and mules are hardier and longer-lived than horses, though working donkeys in poorer regions often reach only 12-15 years.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/working-donkey-vs-mule-vs-horse-differences): Donkey vs Mule vs Horse: Key Differences Explained.

## Briefing
Same family, very different animals Donkeys, mules and horses all belong to the horse family, Equidae, and the genus Equus , which is why they look like cousins. But a working donkey ( Equus africanus asinus ) is a distinct domesticated subspecies with its own biology, temperament and needs. Here is how the three compare. For more on the donkey itself, see our working donkey species guide . What exactly is each animal? Donkey: a domesticated descendant of the African wild ass, kept for about 5,000 years to carry loads and pull carts. Horse: a separate domesticated equine species, generally taller and faster, bred for riding, draught and sport. Mule: not a species at all, but the hybrid offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). The chromosome difference The clearest biological line between them is genetic. Horses have 64 chromosomes and donkeys have 62. A mule inherits one set from each parent and ends up with 63. That odd number disrupts the formation of eggs and sperm, which is why mules are almost always sterile and cannot reliably reproduce. Temperament: flight versus assessment Horses are classic flight animals that bolt from a perceived threat. Donkeys are more likely to freeze and assess danger before acting, a trait often mistaken for stubbornness but really a strong self-preservation instinct. Mules tend to combine the donkey's caution with the horse's size and stamina, which is part of why they are prized as pack animals. Diet and body Donkeys evolved in dry, marginal land and thrive on high-fibre, low-sugar forage such as straw and coarse grasses. Rich pasture or grain that suits a horse can actually harm a donkey, causing obesity and laminitis. Donkeys are also more drought-tolerant and sure-footed than horses, and stand roughly 90-145 cm at the shoulder, smaller than most horses. Lifespan and resilience Donkeys and mules are generally longer-lived and hardier than horses. Well-cared-for donkeys can reach 30 to 50 years, while horses typically live 25 to 30. In practice, though, working donkeys in low-income regions often live only 12 to 15 years because of overwork, poor nutrition and limited veterinary access. Why the distinction matters for welfare Because donkeys hide pain so well and have different dietary and care needs from horses, treating a donkey like a small horse can quietly harm it. Welfare programmes that respect those differences, including WARN's partner-funded clinics in Pakistan, deliver better outcomes. If it resonates, you can support this work without any pressure to give. Read the full Donkey wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/working-donkey-vs-mule-vs-horse-differences): Donkey vs Mule vs Horse: Key Differences Explained.

## What is the difference between a donkey and a mule?
A donkey is a true animal, the domesticated descendant of the African wild ass. A mule is the hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Because the mule inherits 63 chromosomes rather than a matched set, it is almost always sterile.

## Why can't mules reproduce?
Horses have 64 chromosomes and donkeys 62, so a mule inherits 63. This odd, unmatched number disrupts the normal formation of eggs and sperm, which is why mules are effectively sterile.

## Do donkeys and horses eat the same food?
No. Donkeys are adapted to dry, marginal land and thrive on high-fibre, low-sugar forage such as straw and coarse grasses. The richer pasture and grain that suit a horse can cause obesity and laminitis in a donkey.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/newsroom/working-donkey-how-much-can-it-carry): How Much Can a Donkey Safely Carry? The Working-Donkey Load Problem.

## Summary
A donkey should carry no more than about half its own body weight, including the pack saddle, so a typical 110 kg working donkey should carry roughly 55 kg; yet a 2022 study found most working donkeys in Pakistan carried about 77% of their body weight, and 87% exceeded the half-bodyweight limit.

## Excerpt
A donkey should carry no more than about half its body weight, yet most working donkeys studied in Pakistan carried far more. Here is what the science says.

## Takeaway
A donkey should carry no more than about half its own body weight, including the saddle or harness.

## Takeaway
In a 2022 Pakistan study, the median load was about 77% of body weight, and 87% of donkeys carried more than half their weight.

## Takeaway
Around a quarter of the donkeys studied carried over 90% of their body weight.

## Takeaway
Donkeys hauling bricks were roughly 2.5 times more likely to have moderate-to-deep skin lesions, mostly from poor harnesses.

## Takeaway
Overloading harm is largely preventable through load limits, well-fitted padded harnesses, rest, water and basic veterinary care.