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 does not seem to be fully understood by many people. Once they are gone, they are 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.
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.
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, H U M A N S .. !
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 their 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 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.
In order to truly care, humans must feel compassion towards animals in order to understand their struggle for survival. The preservation of all species is very beneficial to all of mankind. Many organisms have a conventional beauty that goes far beyond that on any other. Another simple argument is we exist, so why cant other animals have that same right to exist .. ? Many of the benefits of preservation are extremely beneficial to mankind. Chemicals found in certain plants have been proven to be medically beneficial. Two such chemicals are the alkaloids and so forth. These are used in the treatment of cancerous diseases. It is believed that the estimated quarter-million flowering plant species are potentially a gold mine of additional beneficial chemicals. Some animals also have very beneficial uses. Extracts from some marine animals related to those that built the giant coral reefs, show some promise as anti cancer agents. So far, several broad spectrum anti bodies have been extracted from marine sponges. Sea Anemones, segmented worms, clams, sea cucumbers, sea squirts, moss animals, proboscis worms, sharks, and sting rays are all creatures of the sea that contain medical benefits. On land, the venom of Malayan pit vipers is used as an anti coagulant, an agent to prevent the formation of blood clots. Rats, mice, Rhesus monkeys, and chimps have served as surrogates for human beings in a wide variety of medical experiments. Perhaps though the greatest of all benefits derived from other organisms is that of nourishment which humans extracts from them.
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.
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, H U M A N S .. !
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 their 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 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.
In order to truly care, humans must feel compassion towards animals in order to understand their struggle for survival. The preservation of all species is very beneficial to all of mankind. Many organisms have a conventional beauty that goes far beyond that on any other. Another simple argument is we exist, so why cant other animals have that same right to exist .. ? Many of the benefits of preservation are extremely beneficial to mankind. Chemicals found in certain plants have been proven to be medically beneficial. Two such chemicals are the alkaloids and so forth. These are used in the treatment of cancerous diseases. It is believed that the estimated quarter-million flowering plant species are potentially a gold mine of additional beneficial chemicals. Some animals also have very beneficial uses. Extracts from some marine animals related to those that built the giant coral reefs, show some promise as anti cancer agents. So far, several broad spectrum anti bodies have been extracted from marine sponges. Sea Anemones, segmented worms, clams, sea cucumbers, sea squirts, moss animals, proboscis worms, sharks, and sting rays are all creatures of the sea that contain medical benefits. On land, the venom of Malayan pit vipers is used as an anti coagulant, an agent to prevent the formation of blood clots. Rats, mice, Rhesus monkeys, and chimps have served as surrogates for human beings in a wide variety of medical experiments. Perhaps though the greatest of all benefits derived from other organisms is that of nourishment which humans extracts from them.
Ayubowan! Gamini
ReplyDeleteThanks and I agree. We need now more than ever to be active and influence leaders of the world to think of sustainable living. In Sri Lanka we need to celebrate our greeness and make sure we grow it to be better... be carbon clean in a decade? Do visit www. earthlung.travel on that. But our travel industry leadership killede that initiative and lablled it Rentons' project.
On the global front visit www.avaaz.org for participating in action to influence.
In service
Renton