ENDANGERED ANIMALS

What is a species? What exactly is an endangered species? What is an extinct species? How
have these species come to the point of becoming endangered or extinct? What can we do to save
the endangered species that are near extinction? Can we actually do anything to save these species,
or is it a lost cause? Why should I care?
The answer to many of these questions is not know by most people. As much attention as
this subject gets from environmental groups and agencies, it gets just as much ignoring by the
general public. Many people feel compelled to help or contribute, yet few seldom do carry out their
intentions. This is a very serious subject that needs to receive immediate and full attention from the
general public. Only they can truly make a difference. The concept of extinction just doesnt seem to
be fully understood by many people. Once theyre gone, theyre gone for good. There is no returning
from extinction. If we continue at the present rate we are at now, we could lose one bird or mammal
species per year by the year 2000. These concepts and questions will be fully answered by the time
you have completed reading this paper,
According to The American Heritage Dictionary of The English Language, A species is a
fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking after a genus, and consisting of
organisms capable of interbreeding . A simpler working definition agreed upon by most biologist is
if two visibly different though similar groups of organisms live together with little or no sign of
interbreeding, they are considered to be separate species. Dogs, cats, trees, flowers, and humans are
all different examples of species. A definition of endangered species and a classification of when a
species is endangered is such, organisms once common and abundant but now rare in numbers in
the wild are considered to be endangered. And obviously, species that do not exist anymore are
considered extinct. These are important fundamental concepts that need to be understood before
anything can actually be done to help save or prevent endangered species from becoming extinct.

What is an endangered species?

Endangered species are those considered to be at risk of extinction, meaning that there are so
few left of their kind that they could disappear from the planet altogether. Endangered species are
threatened by factors such as habitat loss, hunting, disease and climate change, and usually,
endangered species, have a declining population or a very limited range.
The current rate of extinction is thought to be far greater than the expected natural rate, with
many species going extinct before they have even been discovered. Shockingly, current estimates
suggest that a third of the world’s amphibians, a quarter of all mammals and one in eight birds are
endangered.
Endangered species usually have a small or declining population size or a very limited
range, meaning factors such as habitat loss, hunting, disease or climate change could cause them to
disappear completely within our lifetimes.
Why are species endangered?
Animals and plants face a large number of different threats with many of them being a
direct result of human activity. Some of the most common threats include:
1. Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation – The ever expanding human population
constantly requires additional space and resources. Land is being cleared to harvest products such as
timber as well as to make way for human settlement, agriculture and transport links.
2. Hunting and poaching – A wide variety of animals have been hunted, or fished, beyond
sustainable levels and now face possible extinction. Species, such as the tiger, are often hunted
because they provide a resource such as food or parts which are used in traditional ‘medicine’.
However, some species, such as the cheetah, have been persecuted after gaining a negative
reputation for feeding upon livestock or crops or posing a threat to human safety.
3. Invasive species – Humans have introduced non-native species (both intentionally and
accidentally) to a wide variety of habitats, often with devastating consequences. Introduced species
may prove highly adaptable and outcompete native species for resources. Introduced predators can
decimate local species which are not adapted to avoid predation, for example ground dwelling birds
like the kakapo.
 4. Climate change - Droughts, ocean acidification, the loss of sea ice and an increase in
storms and extreme weather events can all threaten species’ survival. Sedentary species like plants
or specialist species which inhabit small ranges or islands, or those with specific habitat
requirements are particularly vulnerable.
5. Disease – Small populations, especially those which are limited in terms of genetic
diversity are particularly vulnerable to disease. Disease can often be spread by domestic animals or
accidentally introduced by humans travelling from an affected area to one which had not previously
been exposed.
6. Collection / pet trade – Many animals and plants, such as the Venus flytrap, have been
collected from the wild beyond sustainable levels to be sold through the pet trade or be kept in
private horticultural collections.
7. Pollution – Acid rain, heavy metals, pesticides, plastic waste and oil spills all harm the
environment and put species at risk. Chemicals are particularly harmful to species that live in water.
The methods and causes of many species becoming endangered and extinct are many and
varied. Yet they are all related and caused by one all important underlying factor, humans. Humans
are responsible for nearly every endangered species being that way and for very many of the species
that have become extinct within the past few hundred years. The main reason for a species
becoming endangered is the loss of natural habitats. Each year thousands of acres of rainforests are
cut down or deforested, wetlands and marshes are drained, and slowly but surely the grasslands are
being replaced by cities, towns, and highways . This is a world wide problem. When a species
natural habitat is destroyed or reduced, there is basically nowhere to go. A displaced species of a
destroyed or severely polluted habitat often times cannot adapt fast enough or well enough to
survive. A species in a reduced habitat often times has to fight just to stay alive. The reduction
causes an increase in the population density of not only that particular species, but every other
species in that habitat as well . With higher population densities, resources such as food, water, and
nesting places become so sparse that they cannot possibly support the demand. This leads to the
endangerment of hundreds of species worldwide. Many of the already extinct species went through
this exact process of their demise.
The second major reason of endangerment and extinction is poaching and commercial
hunting . A poacher is someone who hunts and kills rare animals for profit. Often times an animal is
killed in such a brutal way that it not only cruel but inhumane as well. Poachers do not hunt for food
or for legalized game hunting. They will kill and massacre often times for one small part of the
animal that they can sell on the Black Market. Elephants are hunted solely for their tusks which are
made out of ivory, a extremely valuable material that is often use to make several different kinds of
art or jewelry. Tigers, leopards, cheetahs and jaguars are hunted for their fur hides which can be
made into all kinds of clothing and apparel. Lastly, Rhinos are hunted and killed for their horns
which are believed by some to contain magical powers and spirits. Some of the time, rare animals
are trapped and exported to private zoos or laboratories, which is just as serious of a crime.
Although most countries have strict rules and regulations about the hunting and transporting of
these animals, it seems that a few are always getting around these laws or getting away with their
crimes . Commercial hunting is most popularly know by whale hunting. The whales of our oceans
have been hunted nearly to extinction. The blubber and meats of whales are used in many, many
different products such as lipstick, mascara, whale oil . Although many countries such as the US
and Canada are now leading the way to ban all such whale hunting, many other countries such a
Japan, Norway, Sweden, and Finland continue to hunt these whales . Laws and regulations have
been raised to stop this hunting within 200 nautical miles of many countries. The sea still remains
free though to any and all hunting that can be done.
The alarming rate at which species are disappearing is something which should be a cause
for concern for us all. Not only do they add beauty and wonder to the natural world, they are also of
great global economic importance. A great diversity of species maintains the ecosystems essential
to our existence by helping to regulate our climate and by providing:
 clean air and water
 food
 medicines
  building and clothing materials
 fertile soils
With so many species at risk of extinction, the ARKive project is working to help raise the
public profile of the world's endangered species, through the emotive power of wildlife films and
photos. The ARKive project hopes to engage people with the natural world. We will only succeed
in rescuing species from the brink of extinction if people know about their plight, importance and
value.

Conservation status
The conservation status of a species indicates how great the risk is of that species becoming
extinct in the near future.
The most global and comprehensive system that determines the conservation status of each
species is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Species are assessed according to a number of
different criteria, such as how many individuals there are and whether this number is in decline.
They are then placed on a scale in one of the following categories:
 Extinct
 Extinct in the Wild
 Critically Endangered
 Endangered
 Vulnerable
 Near Threatened
 Least Concern
 Data Deficient
Any species which fall into the categories Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered
are considered to be at risk of extinction. Of the nearly 60,000 species assessed so far, this equates
to a staggering 20,222 species, from the majestic tiger to the enormous giant clam.
On 29 January 2010, included the 2754 IUCN Red List of threatened species and
subspecies. Among these we can count

 the blue whale

 the panda bear

 the black goat
 the gorilla

 the great white shark

 the black rhino

 the siberian tiger

 the asian elephant

 the lemur
 the red lion
 the black gibbon
 the red wolf

 the red panda

 the giant otter

 the sea otters

 the sea lion

 What is being done to help endangered species?
Conservation aims to protect the natural world and sustain biodiversity by carefully
preserving and managing existing habitats and restoring areas which have been damaged or
degraded.
Species conservation can also take place outside a species’ natural habitat. For example,
caring for an endangered animal in captivity, such as in a zoo, or preserving endangered plants
through the use of seed banks.
In areas where humans and animals are competing for space or resources, particularly in
poorer developing countries, it is important that conservation work takes into account the needs of
local people and works alongside them in protecting their native species.
Some commonly used conservation actions are as follows:
1. Habitat preservation – The ideal solution is to protect habitats before they are damaged.
This can be achieved through the creation of national parks and marine protected areas. However, it
is important to note that many larger species require extensive territories and designated protected
areas may not be large enough to support them.
2. Habitat restoration – Where a habitat has already been degraded it is sometimes
possible to restore the habitat by carefully managing the land, removing invasive species and
reintroducing native species that had been lost from the area. Some species are bred in captivity or
relocated from other areas for this purpose.
3. Ex-situ conservation – Many endangered species are bred in captivity to preserve their
numbers and in some cases it is possible to reintroduce them to the wild. Some species, like the
Golden arrow poison frog, have even been deliberately removed from the wild to protect them from
the spread of disease and ensure that a small population is preserved. Plant species are often
cultivated in nurseries and preserved via the use of seed banks.
4. Anti-poaching measures – In remote areas guards are sometimes employed to protect
endangered species, such as the mountain gorilla, from poachers. This can be a way of involving
local communities in the protection of their wildlife whilst also providing some employment
opportunities.
5. Wildlife corridors – Where habitats have been fragmented by divisions such as roads,
urban areas or farmland, populations become isolated and are unable to move throughout their
natural range to find sufficient resources and mates. Wildlife corridors help to reconnect habitat
fragments and maintain genetic diversity.
6. Laws and policies – Some endangered species are protected by law or trade in them is
restricted. CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) is an
international agreement between governments to ensure that trade in wild animal and plant
specimens does not threaten their survival.
Much is currently being done to help save the endangered species at this time. Zoos
worldwide often help or contribute to governments and preservation groups working to preserve
animals and environments. One such zoo, the San Diego Zoo is very prominent worldwide for the
work that they have done over the years to help take species off the endangered species list. The SD
Zoo is well known for its Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES). At CRES, the
Virology and Immunology department is working to reduce the impact of deadly viruses and
diseases in the world animal population . The Reproductive Physiology department is studying
semen evaluation, cryopreservation, artificial insemination techniques, and embryo transfer . The
Pathology department is working to pinpoint the cause of death of many animals and methods to
prevent it . Ten or twenty years ago many of these projects and groups were not even in existence..

How can you help?

As well as supporting conservation organisations there are some simple steps that everybody
can take to help protect the natural world and the species in it. Here are some ideas:
1. Recycle – Help protect the rainforests - recycling one tonne of paper can save 17 trees
and preserve the habitat of a whole host of endangered species.
 2. Use less energy – An old tip but a good one, you can save yourself money and help the
environment too. For example, energy saving light bulbs use 80 percent less energy than a standard
bulb, yet produce the same amount of light.
3. Choose sustainable products – Make sure that all the products you buy are sustainably
sourced, from food and paper to timber.
4. Make your voice heard – Petition for change! Many campaigns to help wildlife are
underway but they need your support.
5. Clean up your act – Volunteer to take part in a litter pick or beach clean up.
6. Get involved – Taking part in wildlife surveys is a fantastic way to enjoy the great
outdoors and find out more about your local wildlife. By assessing what species are present you can
help scientists plan how best to protect them in the future.
7. Spread the word – Through the ARKive project we hope to educate and engage people
with the natural world. If you are enthusiastic about saving species then why not encourage your
friends and family to learn more. Find out how you can get involved.

THANK YOU