Natural creatures - Animals (Subclass Mammalia): Animals

Author: Jiang Tao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Nature's Creatures—Animals exhibit a myriad of diverse appearances. Some are majestic and agile, while others are petite and delicate; some are endearingly clumsy, and others are clever and intelligent; some are graceful, and others are sturdy and robust. It is precisely because of the existence of Nature's Creatures—Animals that our planet is vibrant and colorful, thriving in their respective ecological environments. However, due to the intensification and expansion of human development activities, forests are being cut down, rivers are being blocked, wetlands are being drained, and grasslands are being cultivated. This destructive human intervention has led to abrupt environmental changes, causing many animals that depend on each other to lose their habitats—ecological environments. Additionally, many animals have fallen victim to human hunting for their "leather, fur, meat, and medicinal organs," posing a severe threat to the survival of Nature's Creatures—Animals. The primary purpose of compiling the "China Rare Animals Series" is to call on people to show compassion toward Nature's Creatures—Animals, to jointly protect the Earth, protect nature, and protect our friends—animals, ensuring that every species of Nature's Creatures continues to thrive and multiply on Earth. The "China Rare Animals Series" introduces China's first- and second-class protected animals to young people in a vivid, (text and illustration-rich) format. This book covers a wide range of topics, contains rich and accurate information, and is convenient for readers to understand the distribution, characteristics, habits, and endangered reasons of animals. These animals are all nationally endangered or highly endangered species. Some animals have rare wild populations, with declining survival and reproductive abilities, and severe population degradation. Other animals are on the brink of extinction; regardless of the methods humans employ to save them, it is too late, and they will eventually bid farewell to this planet they have inhabited for hundreds of thousands of years— ( extinction). At that time, the only way for humans to encounter them will be to search for their appearances and postures in pictures. Scientific research confirms that the extinction of wild species poses a greater threat to humans than any other disaster. However, wildlife resources are still disappearing at an alarming rate on Earth. "The wisest of all creatures"—humans—should not reflect on our actions of conquering nature and altering ecological environments? The primary purpose of compiling the "China Rare Animals Series" is to call on people to show compassion toward Nature's Creatures—Animals, to jointly protect the Earth, protect nature, and protect our friends—animals, ensuring that every species of Nature's Creatures continues to thrive and multiply on Earth. This book is part of this series and covers eight categories of mammals, including Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Scaly Anteaters, Sirenians, Carnivora, and Cetacea, with a total of fifty-five species.