We had to know about the animals in the Australian Outback and as well as the white tiger. These interesting facts below are taken from the booklet handed out.
Australian Outback
 |
| Inland Taipan |
- 0.11g of its venom can kill 100 persons- For safety precautions, vials of antivenin are brought from the Australian Zoo at $4000 each.
 |
| Carpet Python |
- It is tree-dwelling species
- - It kills prey by constriction (no poison)
 |
| Sugar Glider |
- It is a marsupial (gives birth to undeveloped
young)
- It likes to eat sweet things
- It has a thin membrane stretching from its wrist to its ankle and glides with it
- It has a broad body with short legs- It likes to eat sweet things
- It has a thin membrane stretching from its wrist to its ankle and glides with it
 |
| Blue-tongue skink |
- It has a distinct blue-tongue
Here are just some animals in the outback; of course, there are much more. I learnt that a marsupial is an animal which gives birth to an undeveloped young. Initially, I thought that a marsupial is an animal which has a pouch.
I also learnt more about the desert habitat and how animals living there has developed features which enable them to survive. How I wish I could develop anti-heat blood!
White Tiger
- They are white coloured Bengal tigers.
- There are about 3500-4000 in the wild now
- 6 living species (Siberian- largest, Sumatran- smallest, South China, Indo-Chinese, Malayan, and Bengal)
- 3 extinct species, all extinct in the last 70 years (Caspian, Javan, Balinese)
- Solitary, except when breeding season.
- White tigers are not albinos, and certainly not of a different species; they just had undergone gene mutation.
- 1 in 10,000 tigers is white.
 |
| Indo-Chinese Tiger |
 |
| Malayan Tiger |
 |
| White Tiger....... Similar? |
In this field trip, I am able to understand that wild tigers are at stake because of poaching, loss of habitat and loss of prey. As mentioned above, three tigers can no longer be found in the wild and only in pictures. I hope that we would stop killing tigers or destroying their habitat. As I was very concerned about the issue, I did extra research on Conservation Issues. (Click Link)
The source states that many other animals are also endangered because of many factors. One of the factors is trophy hunting. The lions face this problem. People find that killing and removing their pelt from their corpse is a 'prize'. Moreover, doing this does not benefit the society. I strongly feel that they should cease doing such activities.
Another factor is poaching. Animals, such as tigers, rhinos, and sharks. Tiger bone and rhino horn are believed to cure serious illnesses and hence, these creatures are being poached. There is no scientific proof for these conclusions.
Shark fin, if eaten, is believed to bring prosperity and is often eaten during a wedding. But, many people do not know that this superstition has cost the lives for many sharks. After cutting of the shark's fin, fishermen throw the shark into the water. The shark is crippled without its fins, and literally starves to death. People should put a stop to eating shark fins. A bowl of shark fin may cost about $6.00, but it actually cost a shark's life.
There are already many unavoidable, unfortunate situations like an oil spill or sickness which wiped out many animals. So, why worsen the situation? We human beings prey all other animals, and rule over them with cruelty and brutality. I, myself, would stop eating shark fin but help to preserve their lives and take care of them. Of course, I am just a drop in the ocean and would not make a difference but at least my conscience is clear.
The source states that many other animals are also endangered because of many factors. One of the factors is trophy hunting. The lions face this problem. People find that killing and removing their pelt from their corpse is a 'prize'. Moreover, doing this does not benefit the society. I strongly feel that they should cease doing such activities.
Another factor is poaching. Animals, such as tigers, rhinos, and sharks. Tiger bone and rhino horn are believed to cure serious illnesses and hence, these creatures are being poached. There is no scientific proof for these conclusions.
Shark fin, if eaten, is believed to bring prosperity and is often eaten during a wedding. But, many people do not know that this superstition has cost the lives for many sharks. After cutting of the shark's fin, fishermen throw the shark into the water. The shark is crippled without its fins, and literally starves to death. People should put a stop to eating shark fins. A bowl of shark fin may cost about $6.00, but it actually cost a shark's life. 
There are already many unavoidable, unfortunate situations like an oil spill or sickness which wiped out many animals. So, why worsen the situation? We human beings prey all other animals, and rule over them with cruelty and brutality. I, myself, would stop eating shark fin but help to preserve their lives and take care of them. Of course, I am just a drop in the ocean and would not make a difference but at least my conscience is clear. 