There are 19 critically endangered species, 27 endangered species, 19 vulnerable and 9 near threatened species on Earth right now, according to a WWF species list. Knowing how to identify these animals could help in their survival and prevent their extinction.
As people living in the anthropocene, the geological epoch or time period in which human activity is dominant and can alter things like the climate and which species live and die, we are all responsible for the protection of animal species from extinction. We often forget that we too are a part of nature, and if animals go missing from the ecosystem, the delicate natural system will be ruined (and so will we).
Biodiversity is essential in nature, and yes, extinction is a natural process as well, but human activity has caused a lot more damage and extinctions than nature would have. It is dangerous and threatening to all ecosystems from swamps and marshes to deserts and grassy plains. The unnatural imbalance caused by human interference could potentially wipe out species, and if that doesn't scare you, I don't know what will.
In fact, ScienceAlert published an article entitled, 'We've Wiped Out So Many Mammals, Earth Will Need 5 Million Years to Evolve Replacements'. The urgency to protect these species are growing and growing. This planet may be entering its 6th mass extinction.
The top reasons for endangerment and extinction are overhunting, habitat loss, invasive species, human-animal conflict (like when animals flee to villages when they lose their natural habitat, and are beaten up by humans), lack of genetical diversity, pollution, low birth rate and high genetic vulnerability. Poaching and illegal wildlife trade are also major problems to species.
Habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, population and over-harvesting have caused an estimated 50 percent of the world’s species to be at risk of extinction.
The IUCN Red List has been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties, and even selected subpopulations on a global scale for the past 50 years in order to highlight taxa (biological groups) threatened with extinction, and therefore promote their conservation. It has assessed over 91,000 species to find the ones that require urgent help, and by publishing and updating their infamous Red List at least once every year, they have identified and helped in conservation efforts greatly.
There are 41,415 species on the IUCN Red List, and 16,306 of them are endangered species threatened with extinction.
If you see an exotic and uncommon animal in your locality, call a conservation-specialising organisation like Wildlife SOS and report the sighting immediately. The worst part about the endangered-species problem is that, with a loss of natural habitat and a lack of protection, they are prone to roaming around and getting killed by humans in residential areas, or provoked and beaten up. The Wildlife SOS have hotlines that you can find online, and if you are in a region not supported by this organisation, make sure to find a similar one and promote the use of its helpline among your friends, family and peers.
Now that you know the pressing issue, here's how to help:
Keep Reading:
https://greentumble.com/10-reasons-why-species-become-endangered/ (Why animals become endangered - an article by greentumble)
http://www.endangeredearth.com/ (A website dedicated to endangered species conservation and awareness)
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=desc&sort=extinction_status (short endangered species list)
https://www.sciencealert.com/mammals-can-t-evolve-fast-enough-to-escape-the-current-extinction-crisis (sciencalert article on the extinction crisis)
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