Endangered Species are species, which are in danger of extinction. The survival of such species is difficult if the negative factors that have led to a decline in their population continue to operate. Endangerment involves the habitats and environments where species live and interact with one another. The strongest forces in rapid habitat loss are human beings. Every region of the earth has been affected by human activity. Humans cause the majority of threats to species, sites, and habitats. These threats are often interconnected and reinforce each other.
List of Endangered Animals
- Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Dama Gazelle
- Gray Wolf
- Mountain Gorilla
- African Wild Dog
- Black Rhinoceros
- Gila Monster
- Delhi Sands Fly
- Steller’s Sea Lion
- American Bison(Buffalo)
- Pronghom
- Bald Eagle
- California Condor
- American Burying Beetle
- Asian Elephants
- American Crocodile
- Komodo Dragon
- Bengal Tiger
- Indian Python
- Galapagos Giant Tortoise
- American Peregrine Falcon
- Cheetah
- Whooping Crane
Factors leading to endangerment:
- Habitat Destruction
- Introduction of Exotic Species
- Over Exploitation
- Environmental Pollution
Habitat Destruction
Our planet is continually changing, causing habitats to be altered and modified. Habitat destruction is the largest of the many threats to biodiversity. It is a land-use change in which one habitat-type is removed and replaced with some other habitat-type. Due to this, plants and animals which previously used the site are destroyed. This results in a reduction in biodiversity. The factors causing habitat destruction are:
- Alien invasive species.
- Pollution.
- Climate change.
- Agriculture Activity.
- Forestry, mining, and road construction.
- Expansion of urban areas.
- Infrastructure.
These become the final cause of extinction for species that are already reduced to tiny numbers and bring change in ecosystem.
Introduction of Exotic Species
An exotic species is a non-native plant or animal that is not indigenous to a given place and deliberately or accidentally introduced into a new habitat by human activity. Such species include plants, fishes, algae, mollusks, crustaceans, bacteria, and viruses. Exotic species can reproduce and survive outside of the habitats where they evolved. When species are introduced, they may cause increased predation and competition, disease, habitat destruction, genetic stock alterations, and even extinction. A leading cause of biodiversity loss in many aquatic ecosystems is the introduction of exotic species. Approximately 68% of fish species lost in North America were caused by an invasion of exotic species A leading cause of biodiversity loss in many aquatic ecosystems is the introduction of exotic species. Many a time the exotic species start preying on the existing species and destroy them.
Some of the exotic species are:
- Blackbird from Europe.
- Rabbit from Europe.
- Red fox from Europe.
- Common Black Rat.
- Grey squirrel from North America.
- Edible dormouse.
- American mink.
- Ruddy Duck from America.
- Mandarin Duck from Asia.
- Little Owl from mainland Europe.
- Rose-ringed Parakeet from Asia.
- Red-legged Partridge.
Over Exploitation
The use of raw materials excessively without considering the long-term ecological impacts of such use. Over exploitation of species affects:
- The loss of genetic diversity.
- The loss of number of species.
Over exploitation may include:
- Over Fishing.
- Over harvesting.
- Hunting.
- Trading of animal parts.
Overfishing is leading to a population loss of fishes such as tuna, marlin, swordfish and cod that we prize for food. Their populations have declined by 90 percent since 1950. The Atlantic cod fishery, once the most productive in the world, is now estimated to decline. Many types of whales, seals, bison, birds, and fish are on the edge of extinction.
Overall, 50 species that have become extinct since 1500 have been subject to over-harvesting. It disrupts the interaction between species in the ecosystem. For example, the Passenger Pigeon, which is now extinct, was once the most popular bird, and a population of millions of American Buffalo was reduced to less than 1,000 head within a century.
Due to the trade in animal parts, many species continue to suffer high rates of exploitation. Even today, there are demands for items such as rhino horns and tiger bones in several areas of Asia. It is here that there exists a strong market for traditional medicines made from these animal parts.
Environmental Pollution
Environmental Pollution is relevant to the nature, distribution and ecological effects of all types and forms of chemical pollutants in the air, soil, and water. Air Pollution can cause respiratory problems. Acid rain has caused fish kills in Canada, Scandinavia, and the Adirondacks. Salmon is no longer found in many Nova Scotia. It is harmful to plants.
Sulfur dioxide damages barley, alfalfa, cotton, and wheat. Water Pollution is particularly harmful to marine ecosystems. Sewage and other waste consume dissolved oxygen, decreasing the concentration available to fish. When we treat our sewage with chlorine to kill bacteria, we also kill marine ecosystems. Water pollution includes acid rain. It affects plants. Sulphuric and nitric acid rain washes nutrients out of the soil, damages the bark and leaves of trees and harms the fine root hairs of many plants that are needed to absorb water.
Soil Pollution includes the abuse of pesticides like DDT. This caused the extinction of several large birds like the brown pelican. Its effect on plants includes the overuse of pesticides, the loss of topsoil due to over development and soil erosion, and the uptake of toxic chemicals through the mismanagement of solid waste. Not only are crops affected, but also natural vegetation. Forest ecosystems are also affected by pollution. Acid rain is killing high altitude forests and photochemical smog and ozone damage sensitive redwoods and other old-growth forests closer to sea level.
Protection of endangered species
The protection of endangered species and habitats should be a top priority for international organizations, governmental agencies, industries, and individuals if there is hope for preserving the earth’s valuable biodiversity for future generations. We have to conserve our wildlife and forestry. We can do this by:
- Preserving the ecological diversity and our life support system-water, air and soil.
- Preserving the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and breeding.
- Banning hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats and restricting trade in wildlife.
- Establishing national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
- Recovery plans are often developed to aid in the recovery of the species.
These recovery programs can involve:
- Habitat restoration.
- Captive breeding efforts or husbandry studies.
- Assisted reproduction efforts or field research into behavior.
- Reproduction.
- Biology or ecology studies.
International and U.S. law offer protection to endangered species. Depending on the law, it may be a crime to capture or kill listed species, fail to act to recover them, or harm their habitat or range.
– The ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT lists more than 1,200 U.S. plant and animal species as endangered or threatened with the possibility of becoming endangered. The law requires recovery plans to ultimately delist species. It was passed in 1973 to protect those plant and animal species that are at risk of becoming extinct.
– THE IUCN-WORLD CONSERVATION maintains a record of the Red List of the world’s species that are threatened with extinction. The Red List now includes 16,119 species, more than 7,700 animals and nearly 8,400 plants that are critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable.
– CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an agreement to restrict the trade of more than 30,000 species of animals and plants. It has been signed by more than 160 countries. Endangered species are listed under one of two appendices of CITES. If a species is listed under Appendix I, the member countries have agreed not to trade that species commercially. If a species is listed under Appendix II, the member countries have agreed to trade that species commercially only if it does not endanger the survival of the species.
– WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE (WCMC) maintains a global list of endangered and vulnerable animal species called the Red List.
Other laws and treaties are:
· CONVENTION ON THE MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS.
· MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT.
· THE INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF SEA TURTLES.
· PROJECT TIGER.
· PROJECT RHINO.
Saving endangered species involves Wildlife biologists, ecologists, geneticists, environmental educators, captive breeding specialists, geographic information specialists, environmental policymakers, reserve managers.
Governmental Organizations include:
- U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- National Park Service.
- Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Governments of foreign countries.
Non-governmental Organizations work to save endangered species include:
- Private funding groups.
- Cooperative zoological institutions.
- Private breeders.
- Organizations such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and IUCN-World Conservation Union.