Population is, I hope, self explanatory. With seven billion people on this planet, we are increasing at a rapid rate. I find this cartoon very accurate.
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| Copyright to Denise Quinn |
Why are they endangered? The stripes of a tiger and the thick, lush mane of a lion is highly lucrative. Species like elephants and rhinoceros have tusks and horns that are very desirable because of their uses in medicine and ivory.
As a result, we now have 3,200 tigers in the wild. 80% of the non-captive lion population have vanished. There is about half a million African elephants and 35 to 40 thousand Asian elephants roaming the wilds.
Rhinos... that's a sad story. The Javan and Sumatran sub-species are classified as Critically Endangered. A subspecies of the Javan rhino was declared extinct in Vietnam in 2011. A small population of Javan rhinos live on the island of Java. The Indian rhino is currently classified as Vulnerable after having its status changed from Endangered.
Southern white rhinos, in Africa, were thought to be extinct but now live in sanctuaries and preserves and is considered Near Threatened. The Northern white rhino, however, is extinct in the wild and only a few are left in a sanctuary.
Commercial fishing has left the size of our fish for consumption to be considerably smaller than in the past. I found this article to be fascinating. It is worth the read. Catching Larger Fish Leaves You With Smaller Fish to Catch
Overharvesting does not only impact animals, but trees and plants as well. Everyone has heard the sad story of the South American rainforest. Its area has declined due to deforestation. This has led to many, many undiscovered, endangered species going extinct. As a result, our biodiversity is declining.
What can I do to help?
Well, I'm glad you asked! There are some efficient ways that one can help with the conservation effort from home. Here are some helpful links.
100 Ways to Conserve Water
How You Can Help Promote Sustainability
Wildlife Conservation: 10 Ways You Can Help
101+ Ways to Make a Difference (for the folks living near water)
Please be sure to check the recycling regulations in your area. For example, where I went to college in Rochester, we had to crush bottles (soda, milk, etc) and take off the caps. Boxes had to be collapsed, and so forth. It's not as simple as rinsing out a bottle and tossing it in the recycling box anymore.
If you don't need air conditioning, turn it off and open the windows. Keep your showers short. Fill up your sink with soapy water to wash dishes if you don't have a dishwasher. It saves more water than having the water run while washing dishes. It's the little things that help. Do your research and support the organizations that do the hard work.
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