Green Mumbles Top 10 Critically Endangered Mammals Video.

I have decided to make videos alongside this blog under a YouTube channel of the same name as another side project.

The first I have made is a top 10 list of critically endangered mammals. Every species I have included in the list I picked due to their especially low population sizes and also due to them being relatively unknown compared to the "big names", such as the Javan Rhino and Amur Leopard that always pop up in similar lists.

It includes the Vancouver Island Marmot (Marmota vancouverensis), with an estimated population size of 250 - 300,

(The Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Foundation)

the Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), with an estimated population size of less than 250,

(Photo by Daniel Heuclin)

and the tiny Pygmy Hog (Porcula salvania), that also has an estimated population of less than 250.

(Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust)

These species are all particularly interesting and are important to conserve. For example, genetic research has shown that the Pygmy Hog is the sole species in the genus Porcula meaning that if it died out, the entire taxonomic category would go extinct with it.

The Tamaraw is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Phillipines and is the only bovine species native to the country giving it high national significance.

The Vancouver Island Marmot is one of Canada's most endangered animals and is specifically only native to, you guessed it, Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It is one of the largest members of the squirrel family and has a very successful captive breeding programme, which is likely (and hopefully) going to create a success story for this cute Canadian critter.

The list contains other interesting species such as these, many of which you may never have heard of. I hope you enjoy my first attempt at a wildlife related video and i'll be making the next one soon, so watch this space!