FIVE rare animal spe­cies that are facing the threat of extinction worldwide are being conserved and protected in wildlife sanctu­aries across Myanmar.

These five rare species, such as tapirus, clouded leop­ard, pangolin, Irrawaddy dolphin and star tortoise, are protected in Taninthayi Nature Reserve, Htamathi Wildlife Sanctuary, Lampi Marine National Park, Ayeyawady River and Minson Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.

There are three types of clouded leopards in the world, distinguished by their size and body patterns, with different names depending on the region. They can live up to 11 years and are mainly found in the Himala­yan rainforests. The Sumatran clouded leopard in Indonesia is also well known. As a me­dium-sized wild cat species, they inhabit wildlife sanctuar­ies in Myanmar, particularly Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary. In 2018, the International Un­ion for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified them as an endangered species.

The Irrawaddy dolphin, recognized for its friendly ap­pearance and close interaction with humans, is considered a critically endangered species and is protected as a national treasure. Due to higher mor­tality rates than birth rates, its population continues to decline. As a mammal, it has a gestation period of about 11 months and usually gives birth to only one baby at a time, reaching repro­ductive maturity between seven and nine years of age. Fewer than 90 Irrawaddy dolphins re­main worldwide. Besides My­anmar, they are also found in Singapore and Thailand. IUCN has listed them as an endan­gered species, and efforts are ongoing to conserve those living in the Ayeyarwady River.

The Myanmar star tortoise, which prefers hot climates, is found in Mandalay, Magway, and Sagaing regions. It inhab­its deciduous forests and thorny scrublands. As an omnivorous species, it mainly feeds on fi­bre-rich leaves and prefers to hide under piles of leaves or in sheltered areas. This rare species can be found only in My­anmar, with only around 10,000 individuals remaining, and is being carefully protected.

“The Myanmar star tor­toise can be found in their original habitats in Minsone­taung Wildlife Sanctuary in Natogyi Township, Myingyan District, Mandalay Region, Myaleiktaung in PyinOoLwin district and the Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary in Minbu of Magway. The species was first recognized as critically endangered in the early 1990s. Conservation efforts began at the Lawkananda Park, where breeding programmes have been carried out. Offspring are later released back into their natural habitats to restore the population,” said an official of NyaungU natural environment and wildlife conservation.

Pangolins are critically endangered due to the high demand for their body parts in traditional medicine, which is decreasing their population. ICUN recognized it as vulner­able, and many countries, in­cluding Myanmar, have strict­ly prohibited their killing. In Myanmar, they can be found in wildlife sanctuaries, particularly in Lampi Marine National Park.

The tapir, considered one of the world’s rarest animals, can only be found in a few countries, including Myanmar. It is a her­bivorous animal that resembles a pig but has a short trunk simi­lar to that of an elephant. Tapirs are found in the rainforests of South America, Central Amer­ica, and Southeast Asia. Their body colours vary by region, in­cluding black and brown, pale grey, and combinations of black and white. In Myanmar, black and brown tapirs are found in the Taninthayi Nature Reserve, where they live and reproduce, giving birth to one offspring at a time. — Ottha/KTZH