Endangered Animals
What are Endangered Animals?
Endangered animals are animals that are in danger of becoming extinct. This means that there will be no more of these animals alive on earth. An animal is considered endangered or "threatened" when there are very few of them alive. Some animals are more threatened than others. To keep track of how at risk of becoming extinct a species may be, scientists categorize the level of risk with a different name. From the most threatened animal to least threatened these names are:
1) critically endangered
2) endangered
3) vulnerable
There are also some animals that only exist in captivity (for example in a zoo) these animals are called "extinct in the wild".
Endangered animals are animals that are in danger of becoming extinct. This means that there will be no more of these animals alive on earth. An animal is considered endangered or "threatened" when there are very few of them alive. Some animals are more threatened than others. To keep track of how at risk of becoming extinct a species may be, scientists categorize the level of risk with a different name. From the most threatened animal to least threatened these names are:
1) critically endangered
2) endangered
3) vulnerable
There are also some animals that only exist in captivity (for example in a zoo) these animals are called "extinct in the wild".
What Are Some Of The Most Endangered Animals?
Some "critically endangered" animals include the Black Rhinoceros, Siberian Tiger, Florida Panther, Mountain Gorilla, California Condor, and the Giant Ibis.
Some "endangered" animals include the Sea Otter, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Giant Panda, Blue Whale, Albatross, and the Snow Leopard.
Some "vulnerable" animals include the Lion, Cheetah, Hippo, Dingo, Polar Bear, Humpback Whale, and the Macaroni and Royal Penguins.
Some "endangered" animals include the Sea Otter, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Giant Panda, Blue Whale, Albatross, and the Snow Leopard.
Some "vulnerable" animals include the Lion, Cheetah, Hippo, Dingo, Polar Bear, Humpback Whale, and the Macaroni and Royal Penguins.
How Do We Protect Endangered Animals?
Many countries throughout the world have laws that protect endangered species. It is often a crime to kill or injure an endangered or protected animal.
Throughout the world there are also wildlife or nature preserves. These preserves are large areas of land where animals and their habitat are protected. Development is very limited or prevented altogether on the lands. Hunting is also limited or illegal.
Critically endangered animals are often protected by keeping some of them captive and breeding them in captivity. This helps scientist to keep the species alive and also helps them study the animals. Scientists also study the animals in the wild in order to understand what may be affecting their population. With good science, scientists may be able to help a species of animal survive extinction.
Throughout the world there are also wildlife or nature preserves. These preserves are large areas of land where animals and their habitat are protected. Development is very limited or prevented altogether on the lands. Hunting is also limited or illegal.
Critically endangered animals are often protected by keeping some of them captive and breeding them in captivity. This helps scientist to keep the species alive and also helps them study the animals. Scientists also study the animals in the wild in order to understand what may be affecting their population. With good science, scientists may be able to help a species of animal survive extinction.
How Do Animals Become Endangered and Extinct?
Species of animals or organisms are considered extinct when there are no more of them alive. Animals that are classified as "endangered" are at risk of becoming extinct.
Animals become extinct for a variety of reasons. Today many animals are endangered or have become extinct due to the influence of humans. The main reasons for extinction are listed below.
Natural Forces
Over the course of history many species have become extinct. This is part of the natural process. Species may become extinct because of changes in climate (i.e. the ice age), competition with other species, a reduced food supply, or combinations of all of these. The most well known case of extinction by natural forces was the dinosaurs, who became extinct most likely due to a major meteor impact on Earth. ]
Human Interaction
Today many conservationists are concerned with human interaction causing species to become extinct. This is because human interaction has increased the rate of extinctions beyond what normally should occur in nature. More extinctions reduces the planet's biodiversity and can have adverse affects for all life on Earth.
Hunting
Many species have been hunted to extinction or to the point where they are critically endangered. One example of this is the American Bison. There were millions of bison in the Great Plains of North America until the arrival of the Europeans. Hunting was so intense that only a few hundred were left by the time the animals became protected. Fortunately, they have survived on farms and ranches and are no longer endangered.
Furs, Skins, Feathers, Horns
Besides food, animals are often hunted for specific body parts like their fur, feathers, or horns. Sometimes these animals are the top predators and, therefore, do not have a large population to begin with. These species can be quickly hunted to extinction.
In Africa, the elephant was heavily hunted for its prized ivory horns. The population went from many millions to a few hundred thousand. Today the elephant is protected, but the population continues to drop in some areas due to poachers.
Another example is the tiger in China. The tiger was nearly hunted to extinction for both its valuable fur as well as its bones, which were traditionally used for medicine. Today it remains classified as an endangered species.
Loss of Habitat
One of the main threats to animals today is loss of habitat. This comes from the expansion of humans, especially from agriculture. As vast areas of land are cultivated to grow food, natural habitats are destroyed. This can destroy many of the cycles of life necessary for organisms to survive and for biomes to thrive.
Pollution
Pollution from humans can kill off a species as well. This is especially true in fresh water biomes such as rivers and lakes. Sewage and run-off from industrial plants can poison the water. When one species is affected, other species can die off as well causing a chain reaction as the balance of the ecosystem is destroyed.
Introduced Species
When a new species of plant or animal is brought into an ecosystem it can become invasive, quickly taking over and killing off other species. It may also destroy an important part of the food chain causing many other species to suffer.
Animals become extinct for a variety of reasons. Today many animals are endangered or have become extinct due to the influence of humans. The main reasons for extinction are listed below.
Natural Forces
Over the course of history many species have become extinct. This is part of the natural process. Species may become extinct because of changes in climate (i.e. the ice age), competition with other species, a reduced food supply, or combinations of all of these. The most well known case of extinction by natural forces was the dinosaurs, who became extinct most likely due to a major meteor impact on Earth. ]
Human Interaction
Today many conservationists are concerned with human interaction causing species to become extinct. This is because human interaction has increased the rate of extinctions beyond what normally should occur in nature. More extinctions reduces the planet's biodiversity and can have adverse affects for all life on Earth.
Hunting
Many species have been hunted to extinction or to the point where they are critically endangered. One example of this is the American Bison. There were millions of bison in the Great Plains of North America until the arrival of the Europeans. Hunting was so intense that only a few hundred were left by the time the animals became protected. Fortunately, they have survived on farms and ranches and are no longer endangered.
Furs, Skins, Feathers, Horns
Besides food, animals are often hunted for specific body parts like their fur, feathers, or horns. Sometimes these animals are the top predators and, therefore, do not have a large population to begin with. These species can be quickly hunted to extinction.
In Africa, the elephant was heavily hunted for its prized ivory horns. The population went from many millions to a few hundred thousand. Today the elephant is protected, but the population continues to drop in some areas due to poachers.
Another example is the tiger in China. The tiger was nearly hunted to extinction for both its valuable fur as well as its bones, which were traditionally used for medicine. Today it remains classified as an endangered species.
Loss of Habitat
One of the main threats to animals today is loss of habitat. This comes from the expansion of humans, especially from agriculture. As vast areas of land are cultivated to grow food, natural habitats are destroyed. This can destroy many of the cycles of life necessary for organisms to survive and for biomes to thrive.
Pollution
Pollution from humans can kill off a species as well. This is especially true in fresh water biomes such as rivers and lakes. Sewage and run-off from industrial plants can poison the water. When one species is affected, other species can die off as well causing a chain reaction as the balance of the ecosystem is destroyed.
Introduced Species
When a new species of plant or animal is brought into an ecosystem it can become invasive, quickly taking over and killing off other species. It may also destroy an important part of the food chain causing many other species to suffer.