WAWA Conservation recently teamed up with Illustraciencia, an organisation that tutors artists in scientific nature illustrations. In true WAWA style, we chose four weird and wonderful species: the maleo, Mary River turtle, cork-bark leaf-tail gecko and the saola.
Fact file: Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis)
The elusive saola, or two-horned unicorn, is cited to be one the rarest large animals on Earth, and has yet to been seen in the wild by a biologist!
Fact file: Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo)
As exemplary parents, the Maleo cooks its chicks in geothermal sands until they are just right.
Fact file: Cork-bark leaf-tail gecko (Uroplatus pietschmanni)
The cork-bark leaf-tail gecko is a master of disguise, but despite its perfect camouflage it can’t hide from habitat destruction.
Fact file: Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus)
You should probably know that unlike most other turtles, Mary River turtles breathe with their butts!
Saving the venom: conservation efforts to protect the Hispaniolan Solenodon
The Hispaniolan Solenodon is a shrew-like mammal that has been around since the age of the dinosaurs. They are found only on the island of Hispaniola in the Dominican Republic and also in parts of southern Haiti. They tend to live in moist forest areas.
The Sunda Pangolin – Defender of the Realm
It is vital that modern trafficking is halted as soon as possible to ensure the Sunda pangolin’s continued existence as a species. With enough immediate action we may be able to prevent our tiny knights from going extinct, like so many animals before them.
The Long-beaked Echidna: a rather peculiar mammal
On top of being adorable, these animals are quite unique in many aspects. All four species of echidna, along with their close relatives, the platypus, are known as monotremes, and they are the only mammals to lay eggs rather than give birth to live young.
An Electrifying Creature: Proteus Anguinus
The entirely aquatic salamander, known as the olm (Proteus anguinus), is Europe’s most impressive cave-dwelling vertebrate. Or, more accurately, it is Europe’s only cave-dwelling vertebrate.
The Philippine Eagle and the Philippine Eagle Foundation
The Philippine eagle is one of the largest and rarest eagles in the world. This avian wonder is critically endangered and at risk of being lost from our world forever. Habitat loss and human conflict has meant that the remaining 400 pairs can only be found on four islands in the Philippines.