5 Animals You Didn't Know Where Endangered
By: Rachel
Planet Earth is home to many organisms - human, animal, plant, and even bacteria. We are the only planet know to be able to sustain life. But having to share the world between different organisms is proving to be difficult. Humans need natural resources to build, but wildlife need environments to live. For a while, humans didn't realize the significance of their actions, and animal populations started to dwindle, even disappear. It wasn't until 1973 when the United States passed the Endangered Species Act in effect to help with conservation effects. But unfortunately, that hasn't changed much. As of 2018, there are now three times as many endangered species as there were ten years ago. According to the Internationals Union for Conservation of Nature, we are losing animal species at more than 1,000 times the "normal" rate ("Endangered Species", 2018). In an effort to raise awareness of our harmful effects, here are 5 animals that you probably didn't know were endangered.
1. Lemurs
Over 100 species of lemurs call Madagascar their home. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world and is largely unable to use the natural resources. Some estimate that 90% of the natural vegetation has been destroyed, leaving only about 10% available to lemurs. Because of that, more that 90% of lemur species are critically endangered, and risk extinction in the coming years ("The Problem", 2018). "Lemur family." Duke Lemur Center, 1 April 2020. www.lemur.duke.edu/
2. Sea Turtles / Green Turtle
Green turtles are one of the largest sea turtles and are distinguished by their greenish color of their cartilage. Like other sea turtles, they migrate long distances between feeding grounds and beaches where they lay their eggs. They are classified as endangered due to the threat of over harvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in sea pollution, and loss of nesting beach sites ("Green Turtle-Facts", 2020). "Green Sea Turtle." Massive Science, 1 April 2020. www.massivesci.com/
3. Pandas / Giant Pandas
Pandas are adored by the world and considered a national treasure in China. It is also known for being the WWF's logo since their founding in 1961. Pandas mainly live in temperate forests in the mountains where bamboo is grown. They are classified as vulnerable as they are facing habitat loss. Due to infrastructure developments (such as dams, roads, and railways), panda populations are becoming isolated, preventing them from finding new bamboo forests ("Giant Panda-Facts", 2020).
"Happy Giant Panda." National Geographic, 1 April 2020. www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
4. Vaquitas
Vaquitas, the worlds rarest marine mammal, is a species of porpoise natural to the Gulf of Mexico. Vaquitas look very common to dolphins, but are distinguished by their large dark ring around its eyes and dark patches from their lips to their pectoral fins. They were not discovered until 1958 and sadly only half a century later, we are on the brink of loosing them forever. They are classifies as critically endangered due to illegal fishing operations catching and drowning them in gillnets. The vaquita will likely be extinct if fishery bycatch is not eliminated immediately ("Vaquita-Facts", 2020). "Vaquita." Mexican News Daily, 1 April 2020. www.mexicannewsdaily.com
5. Orangutans / Sumatran Orangutan
Orangutans are most commonly distinct by their vibrant orange shaggy hair and their lean and lanky physique. Sumatran orangutans are almost exclusive to the island of Sumatra and are found living among the trees of tropical rainforests. They are classified as critically endangered due to habitat loss. North Sumatra, where most orangutan habitats are, is being effects at an extremely high rate due to widespread forest fire and conversion to oil palm plantations. "Sumatran Orangutan." SOS, www.orangutans-sos.org
Although the list of endangered animals continues to grow, so does the number of conservational efforts being make to help sustain wildlife. Thanks to big organizations such as the World Wildlife Foundation, people around the world are learning about animal extinction and can do their part to help save a species. If you would like to learn more about species on the endangered list or would like to donate to conservational efforts, please visit the WWF website: https://www.worldwildlife.org/. Earth wouldn't be the same without all the amazing species that call it home.
Information for this post was sourced from:
faunalytics.org/endangered/
lemurfund.org/the-problem/
https://www.worldwilflife.org/
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