D Bannister, Isle of Luing.'s photos

The Ruddy Shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea, is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae. In India it is known as the Brahminy Duck. There are very small resident populations of this species in north west Africa and Ethiopia, but the main breeding area of this species is from south east Europe across central Asia to southeast China. These birds are mostly migratory, wintering in southern Asia.

Found: Madagascar.Habitat: This species is very patchily distributed in lowland to mid-altitude rain forests. Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs maintain large home ranges consisting of primary forest with tall trees. They are almost exclusively fruit eaters, and as they are very selective feeders, this makes them especially susceptible to disturbance. This species is named after the thick black and white coat it possesses, especially the thick tufts on its ears.

Range: Found from extreme south-central Canada, through the United States, and into north-eastern Mexico

Threats: The decline of Africa’s rhinos is one of the greatest wildlife tragedies of our time. The white rhinoceros has suffered from habitat loss, urbanisation and poaching for the international rhino horn trade.

Found: Africa Location: Savannah. Threats: Peralta giraffes are critically endangered and the population of Peralta Giraffes in Niger are the last Giraffes in West Africa. They live in an unprotected area of southwest Niger in direct contact with an ever-growing population competing for space and food. The destiny of the last Giraffes of West Africa is thus closely dependent on that of the human population

Found: Madagascar. Habitat: Primary rainforest. Ruffed Lemurs are only found in undisturbed primary forest.

Range: Once found throughout Europe, Asia and Africa lions are now found only in sub-Saharan Africa, Female lions are the primary hunters of the group. They are smaller and more agile than males. But since their prey is still generally faster than them, they use teamwork to bring an animal down. Fanning out, they form a semicircle, with the smaller, weaker lionesses herding the prey towards the centre. Then the stronger females knock the animal down and make the kill.

Range: Once found throughout Europe, Asia and Africa lions are now found only in sub-Saharan Africa,

Found: Madagascar. Lemur catta Habitat: The ring-tailed lemur lives in dry brush and scrub, as well as closed canopy forest. Unlike other lemur species it is found in open areas and will walk along the ground as well as moving between the trees.

Found: South America. Range: The Jaguar has been virtually eliminated from much of the drier northern parts of its range, as well as northern Brazil, the pampas scrub grasslands of Argentina and throughout Uruguay. It is now estimated to occupy only about 46% of its historic range.