Some animals in the wild have unusually high predation situations where their numbers could fall quickly and drastically. These animals are given federal protection from the U.S. government in the form of an “endangered” classification. These animals usually are in danger of losing their habitat in which they live for development purposes or have extremely low reproductive potential and can be potentially over-harvested. The federal protection status prohibits import, export, collection, sale, harvest and possession unless a permit is issued from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Endangered Species at the Montgomery Zoo

• Andean Condor (Vulture gryphus)

• Cheetah (Aciononyx jubatus)

• Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

• Cuban iguana (Cyclura nubila)

• Indian Pond Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga trijuga)

• Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)

• Jaguar (Panthera onca)

• Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

• Military macaw (Ara militaris)

• Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus)

 

The USFWS also has a protection status for animals that may need to be upgraded to endangered in the near future. These animals also have restrictions placed on their harvesting, possession and transport, although to a lesser degree than the endangered classification.

Threatened Species at the Montgomery Zoo

• Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrodemys temminckii)

• African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

• Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

• Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis canadensis) 

• Cougar (Puma concolor)

• Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)

• North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

• Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)