Page 36 - BBC Wildlife - August 2017 UK
P. 36

▲ TARZAN’S CHAMELEON
         Calumma tarzan
         So why is this Tarzan’s chameleon? Did
         Tarzan discover it? No, it is so named
         because it was discovered, as recently as
         2009, in Tarzan’s Forest in Madagascar,
         just outside the village of Tarzanville. As
         soon as the chameleon was found it was
         immediately categorised as Critically
         Endangered. Its habitat has become terribly
         fragmented by slash-and-burn agriculture.










           BORNEAN ORANGUTAN
         Pongo pygmaeus
         Orangutans potentially have a long life
         ahead of them – they can live up to 50
         years. But females don’t start to reproduce
         until 10–12 years of age and give birth at
         most every three to five years. Such a low
         birth rate is a big problem, as Ceri reflects:
         “I look at Ralph’s picture and after my
         research I now realise how much time it
         took for that baby to be born and how
         precious that single life is. It isn’t going
         to get a brother or sister in a hurry…”
         36  BBC Wildlife                                                                                  August 2017
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