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Species on the verge of extinction and our efforts to revert their cause

Loggerhead Turtle

The latest research states that species around the world are going extinct faster than thought, at a rate not seen since the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today there are nearly 8,500 creatures around the globe threatened with extinction and at least one species dies out every year. The reasons for so many endangered species in the world are connected with ecological problems of the modern world. World is facing many diverse ecological problems like habitat destruction, commercial exploitation (such as plant collecting, hunting, and trade in animal parts), invasive species, climate change, and pollution. Of these causes, direct habitat destruction threatens the greatest number of species.

1. Greater Horseshoe Bat:
a horseshoe bat

The greater horseshoe bat is one of the rarest out of the fourteen species of bat found in Britain. Current estimates show that there are approximately between 4,000 and 6,000 Greater Horseshoe Bats left. They are becoming victims of insecticides, which have been used to kill insects found in crops and depriving them of their insect food. The Greater Horseshoe Bat is one of the most endangered species on earth.

2. Jackass Penguins:

penguin2

The jackass penguin is a flightless seabird, which is found nowhere in the world except off the coast of southern Africa. African penguins, which can on an average live for 10-15 years do not reach their full life span and hence their population have been steadily decreasing. They face innumerable threats, from oil spills and pollution to a dwindling seal food supply, which makes this penguin prey rather than peer. The IUCN’s Red List now considers African penguins vulnerable. This means they are at a high risk to becoming extinct.

3. Black Rhinoceros:
riano

The Black Rhinoceros is one of the most endangered species on the earth. Native to the eastern and central areas of Africa, are on the verge of extinction with less than 2,500 left in the wild. The main cause behind this critically endangered creature’s dwindling numbers is not loss of habitat, instead poaching is this mammal’s greatest enemy. A great number of the black rhinoceros are being killed for their extreamly valuable horns.

4. Mountain Gorilla:
mountain gorilla painting

The Mountain Gorillas have been severely affected by human activity and fighting for survival for quite sometime now. This highly endangered specie is found in Virunga volcanoes region in eastern Zaire, Rwanda and Uganda. They are loosing their identity due to frequent killing by traps and snares intended for other animals, face habitat loss and are susceptible to many of the same diseases as humans. Their dependence on forest for survival is immense and these are y being cut down drastically to prepare land for cultivation and livestock grazing. Mountain Gorillas are prone to all the human diseases ad they are 98% genetically identical to humans. This is the most endangered of the gorilla subspecies, only about 700 mountain gorillas remain in the wild.

5. Loggerhead Turtle:
loggerhead turtle

The Loggerhead Turtle that is found in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is just on the edge of extinction. Once a large number of these turtles were seen spending much of their time floating on the surface of the water now only a few are left. The cause for their decreasing number is they are extensively hunted for their meat and eggs, while their fat becomes one of the basic components for making cosmetics. Fishing nets used by fishermen are proving to be lethal to this non-targeted specie. Every year when the Loggerhead turtles migrate across the open ocean between their feeding and nesting grounds, many get entangled in fishing nets and drown.


Efforts made to save the species that are vulnerable to extinction:

Looking at the current rate at which many of the precious species are going extinct a lot of efforts are been taken to preserve them. Many organizations worldwide are doing what they can to keep the endangered species from extinction. In an effort to protect global biodiversity and encourage the study, restoration, and sound management of endangered species, the IUCN and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) maintain a global list of endangered and vulnerable animal species called the Red List. The Red List database, a framework for international conservation efforts assesses the status of, and threats to, animal species worldwide. To add to this and other biodiversity databases, nongovernmental organizations such as Conservation International and World Wildlife Fund conduct periodic rapid assessments.

Several efforts are being made by private and governmental organizations to save endangered species. One immediate approach is to protect a species by legislation. The Lacey Act of 1900 was passed to protect wildlife from commercial trade and overhunting. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 banned the killing and importing of whales and nearly all marine mammals. In addition to promoting species and habitat protection in the United States, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) discouraged the exploitation of endangered species in other countries by banning the importation and trade of any products, such as elephant-tusk ivory, obtained from such species. The Conservation of Coastal Birds is working for the preservation of penguins in Sothern Africa. We can also contribute to their noble cause by volunteering, donating, or adopting a penguin through the foundation.

Here are a few thing we can do to help those endangered animals from over killing.

1. Join one of the organizations that works towards saving the endangered species.
2. Refuse to buy products that contain animal ingredients such as fur, ivory, and tortoiseshell.
3. Refuse to buy products that have been tested on animals.
4. Think about what you eat.
5. Start or join a local community effort to save an area of land used by wildlife.
6. Buy recycled paper and save paper for recycling to help conserve forested habitats.

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