VULNERABLE / self-portraits that show us who you really are.
View allAll Photos Tagged vulnerability
Two frisky little leopard cubs. They were about 6 months old when we saw them (born ~ March 2021) with their 9 year old mom named"Nkoveni" Londolozi Game Reserve, Sabi Sands, South Africa. Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Female leopard (Panthera pardus) named Ximungwe born May 2015. Londolozi Game Reserve, Sabi Sands, South Africa. Conservation Status: Vulnerable
A. cygnoides is currently classified as Vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN Red List: it meets one of the 5 red list criteria and is therefore considered to be at high risk of unnatural (human-caused) extinction
Total population was estimated as 60–90,000 individuals in 2012.
======================================================
1190843
Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in recognition of World Giraffe Day 2020. This annual event celebrates the tallest animal in the world on the longest (or shortest) day of the year. The day highlights the plight of giraffes who are sufferning a silent extinction. Their populations have dramatically dropped because of habitat loss, poaching, and civil unrest and these iconic African animals have now been reclassified from least concern to vulnerable to extinction.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Lézard Vert
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
Western green lizard | Lacerta bilineata | adult male | Ticino (Switzerland) | 05-2022
More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
In case you're interested, you'll find a less cropped version of the photo above: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/western-green-lizard-lacerta-bi...
The story behind the photo:
For the most part, I try to show photos here that come with an entertaining anecdote that my fellow Flickerites can identify with and enjoy; the world offers enough misery as it is, so my goal is to cheer you up, not to drag you down. But here for once I feel I have a responsibility to share with you what I see as a cautionary tale - and I don't blame you if you turn away now, because what follows is not a pleasant read.
But before I get into that I want to say that the year 2022 was - at least as far as my photographic endeavors were concerned - an amazing one, and I'm very grateful. It was a year of many firsts for me; I managed to produce my first acceptable bird photo; I was for the first time able to capture a roe deer as well as a swallowtail, a mantis and even a fox (which I can't wait to show you): all from within my tiny garden in Ticino.
But while there were many wonderful encounters with the fascinating creatures that share "my" vacation home and its adjacent garden with me that I was only too happy to show here, you might have noticed that the lizard species whose Latin name is my alias on Flickr and that - still - "kinda" serves as the main focus of my gallery, has been absent for a long while.
One of the reasons for holding back on new Lacerta bilineata photos is obviously that I decided to widen my focus a bit and that I now concentrate on all the species I manage to capture in my garden and its immediate surroundings.
But there is another reason I haven't uploaded any western greens this summer. Even though I shot dozens of photos of some of the most gorgeous individuals of the species I've ever seen (many of which you can also find here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/western-green-lizard-lacerta-bi... ), those were all taken on the other side of the village, and not in my garden.
The beautiful male above was in fact one of only 3 western greens I found (alive) in the vicinity of my garden between May and October in 2022 - and out of those he's the only one I was able to photograph.
So what happened? Well, a year ago the neighbor to my immediate left got a young cat, and at the same time, the neighbor to my right also adopted two kittens. Before I continue, it is important to me that you know that I myself am very much a cat person: I adore felines of any kind, and in our own household (though not at our vacation home) we've always had generations of cats, and they were and are as dear to us as our human family members.
So I have no interest in pushing any sort of "anti-cat agenda"; I'm just telling you what happened. By the time spring 2022 came around, my neighbors' cats were almost fully grown and had developed their hunting skills. Between the three of them, they killed up to a dozen western green lizards every day once the reptiles started re-emerging from their winter hiding places which is when they generally are at their most slow and vulnerable.
It was easy to count the dead lizards, because the cats didn't eat them, and whenever I was outside rarely an hour passed without one of the cats showing up with a lizard or some other animal in its mouth. They also killed most of the snakes, even the slightly longer ones at 50-70cm.
Within only a few weeks, the entire Lacerta bilineata population in and around my garden was gone, and the same was true for the population of green whip snakes, while even the number of common wall lizards, which were extremely abundant before, markedly went down during that same time period.
There had always been cats in our village, and I was aware or at least suspected that the ebb and flow of the bilineata population in the past was somewhat tied to how many cats were permanently present at any given time, but my immediate neighbors had never had cats before (which is probably why a tiny population of this protected reptile species had managed to survive around my house).
Now experiencing up close what an impact only 3 cats can have on an isolated, small reptile population was absolutely shocking. What I witnessed made me sad, but I'm not angry at the cats - nor do I hold a grudge towards my neighbors, who are kind, generous and all around lovely people.
And while I don't want to lecture anybody, what I would like to do is offer a few ideas how we as cat-lovers can help mitigate the averse effects our beloved pets' predatory nature (which is nobody's fault: least of all the cats') has on the ecosystems around our homes.
If we live in areas where there's threatened/protected species close to our homes that our cats will prey upon, the time when we let our pets out of the house can already make a huge difference. For example, western green lizards are at their most active between 8am and 11am, and not letting our cats out during that period can already increase the lizards' chance of survival.
If you're a cat lover like me but you also want to protect your local fauna, knowing when during the day birds and reptiles are the most active as well as knowing their breeding/nesting cycles is crucial, and by adjusting the times or time periods when you let your cat out of the house (or not) accordingly will make a vital difference.
But there are also simpler approaches: most reptiles and birds (which are by far the most vulnerable to hunting cats) are not active during the night. Rodents like rats and mice on the other hand very much are, so if you mostly let your cat out after sunset, it will predominantly hunt mice and rats, which are usually abundant enough that their populations aren't threatened (this at least is true for western Europe - other regions might have threatened wildlife that is active during the night, so if you do care, try to educate yourself about the creatures that will fall prey to your pet).
Cats are perfectly adapted to night activity, but they switch to more daytime activity in order to better fit the routine of "their" humans. So while our cats probably won't like it at first to have to stay indoors during the day, they will quickly adapt and accept it, as long as they know they will be able to leave the house once the sun has gone down.
Naturally, there might be practical issues involved that make it impossible to try some of the above (like the presence of coyotes who will eat your cats if they are out at night), but who knows, maybe one person or other will find some of these suggestions useful. And while it may be too late for "my" lizards, I just feel an obligation to at least try to help raise awareness on the issue (although I realize this is a touchy subject and people have strong opinions about it).
In any case, thank you so much for taking the time to read this not very pleasant text. And as always, let me know what you think of the photo in the comments below - but please refrain from making any "heated" statements regarding the issue at hand out of respect for other commenters whose feelings you might hurt (if you feel very strongly about this subject and want to "vent", you may always reach me via my Flickr Mail).
Many greetings from Switzerland and a belated HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!!! 🎉 😊 ❤!
Female African lion (Pantera leo) and her ~ 6 month old cubs. They are part of the Ntsevu pride of Londolozi Game Reserve, Sabi Sands, South Africa. Conservation status: Vulnerable
A masked lapwing or spur winged plover, Vanellus miles, chick that I think was less than two days old. Unfortunately, the parents did not stay very close to it so I did not get a reasonable photo of the chick and one of its parents together. Its height was less than the height of its parents knees (see next photo). I kept my distance because masked plovers will defend the chicks and they have spurs on their wings with which they could attack.
Masked lapwings do not always choose good places to nest. They have been known to nest on railway tracks. This pair probably nested on the ground in the backyard of a house. They would often go onto quite a busy road and did not stop the chick going onto the road.
* PosEd Poses ( Sponsor ) - Feeling vulnerable
Exclusive for ♥ Pose Fair♥ - Open March 7 - March 28 th
All Credits & Landmarks in ♥ My Blog ♥
Considered vulnerable the Aldabra giant tortoise can live for more than 150 years ,possibly 200 years ! Its carapace can be 4 feet in length & their weight 250 Kg. Having a mainly vegetarian diet they obtain most of their water from their diet.
Taken at the Casela Bird Park, Mauritius .
Click on image to enlarge.
I took Alan's comment (on Flickr) as the title, because I liked it a lot.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
Two of three female African lions (Pantera leo) that have been hunting together. After their meal, they went to the watering hole for a drink, then spent time relaxing and grooming nearby. The traces of blood on their coat are from their most recent hunt.
Londolozi Game Reserve, Sabi Sands, South Africa.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
March 10th, 2021 approximately 6:04 pm
Samsung Galaxy S10+ (SM-G975U)
F2.2
1/60 s
1.80mm
ISO 80
program AE
WB: Auto
song accompaniment: "Stress Fracture" by Mick Jenkins featuring Mikahl Anthony, Produced by Black Milk
I noticed these beautiful golden stalks of wheat in a field close to me so I stopped and took a couple of shots. I liked these random sunflowers sprouting up.
I still have a few images from my trip to Lake Tyrell in November 2021.
I did post one of this old grader that sits several kilometers out from the shore of Lake Tyrell. It has been stranded there for almost 30 years, slowly rustling away.
"Rust Never Sleeps" is of course the title from Neil Young's Classic album Some consider the term to be a metaphor for artistic vitality. E.g. by staying the same, one is vulnerable to the corrosive effects of aging and obsolescence.
That works for me.
The fringe-eared oryx (Oryx beisa callotis) is a subspecies of East African oryx. San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Nombre común: Cacique candela, turpial de vientre rojo , chango ventrirrojo
Nombre cientifico:Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
Nombre en ingles: Red-bellied Grakle
Nombre en alemán: Rotbauchsarling
Nombre en francés: Carouge á ventre rouge
Lugar de la foto: 2260 msnm, Teyuna Birding , La Ceja, Antioquia, Colombia
In the Winter, White Squirrels have the advantage ,as they blend in with the snow on the ground and trees. Unfortunately for them, the rest of the year they stand out and are an easy target for prey. ( raptors,foxes,coyotes and domestic dogs)
Nombre común: Terlaque andino
Nombre científico: Andígena hypoglauca-n
Nombre en inglés: GREY- BREASTED MOUNTAIN- TOUCAN
BIRD NEAR THREATENED
Nombre en alemán: Blautukan
Nombre en francés: Toucan bleu
Lugar de la foto: 2900 msnm, Finca El Bosque Manizales- Caldas- Colombia
NT- CASI AMENAZADA
NT- NEAR THREATENED
VU- VULNERABLE
Mala Mala Game Reserve
Near Kruger National Park
South Africa
Happy Caturday!!
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five species in the genus Panthera, a member of the Felidae. The leopard occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because leopard populations are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation and are declining in large parts of the global range.
Contemporary records suggest that the leopard occurs in only 25% of its historical global range. Leopards are hunted illegally, and their body parts are smuggled in the wildlife trade for medicinal practices and decoration.
Compared to other wild cats, the leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull. It is similar in appearance to the jaguar, but generally has a smaller, lighter physique. Its fur is marked with rosettes similar to those of the jaguar, but the leopard's rosettes are smaller and more densely packed, and do not usually have central spots as the jaguar's do. Both leopards and jaguars that are melanistic are known as black panthers.
The leopard is distinguished by its well-camouflaged fur, opportunistic hunting behaviour, broad diet, and strength (which it uses to move heavy carcasses into trees), as well as its ability to adapt to various habitats ranging from rainforest to steppe, including arid and montane areas, and its ability to run at speeds of up to 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph)- Wikipedia
Also known as Rüppell's Griffon Vulture, this species was given an IUCN status of critically endangered in 2015. Only eight years prior, in 2007, its IUCN status was "near threatened", and it was subsequently degraded down through "vulnerable" and "endangered" to its current status. The BirdLife International Fact Sheet for this species estimates that there are only 22,000 individuals left in the world. The biggests threats are poisoning (a technique used to kill predators of livestock, this species and other carrion feeders are also impacted), medicinal purposes, and habitat loss. This species is also considered the highest flying bird in the world. There is documented collision with a commercial airliner at 37,000 feet (the bird was sucked into the engine, killing the bird; the engine was shut down and the plane landed safely).
As the heavens prepare for an imminent downpour, nature paints a breathtaking scene in the mountains of Tuscany.
Italy experiences a period of intense rainfall as dark clouds dominate the sky. The relentless downpour transforms the landscape, turning streets into temporary rivers and fields into saturated patches of earth. People navigate through the rain, seeking shelter and utilizing umbrellas and raincoats to stay dry. The heavy rainfall showcases the power and unpredictability of nature, reminding us of our vulnerability in the face of natural forces.
La Ceja, Colombia; 2.300 meters above sea level.
The red-bellied grackle is endemic to Colombia where it is found in all three Andean ranges at altitudes of 800 to 2,400m (2,600 to 7,900ft) above sea level.
Its natural habitat is tropical forest, but the trees are increasingly being felled for timber and to make way for agriculture, and little virgin forest remains within its range.
H. pyrohypogaster was formerly classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but in 2012 the threat level was lowered to "vulnerable". This is on the basis that, although its forest habitat remains under pressure, it has been found at some new locations where it was not known before. The total population is now estimated to be in the range 2,500 to 9,999 individuals.
Female snow leopard (Panthera uncia) named "Naphisa" born May 16, 2018 at Zoo New England and moved to San Diego to take part in the Snow Leopard Species Survival Program.
San Diego Zoo
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Thank you for your views and comments. They are all greatly appreciated.
3 year old female mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) named Stella. Mandrills are a large Old World monkey native to west central Africa.
San Diego Zoo.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Thank you for your views and comments. They are all greatly appreciated.
Nombre común: Guacamaya verde
Nombre científico: Ara militaris
Nombre en inglés:Militry Macaw
Nombre en alemán: Soldatenara
Nombre en francés: Ara militaire
Lugar de la foto: Reserva Natural Torre La Vega, Puerto Triunfo, Antioquia, Colombia