Chapter 3 : IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES

 Biodiversity is the variety of life (its ecosystems, populations, species and genes).  Saving endangered species (plants and animals) from becoming extinct and protecting their wild places is crucial for our health and the future of our children. As species are lost so too are our options for future discovery and advancement. The impacts of biodiversity loss include clearly into fewer new medicines, greater vulnerability to natural disasters and greater effects from global warming.

Plants and animals maintain the health of an ecosystem. When a species becomes endangered, it’s a sign that an ecosystem is out of balance. And the consequences can be critical. The balance within an ecosystem isn’t always easy to maintain; the loss of one species often triggers the loss of others. 

The conservation of endangered species, and restoring balance to the world’s ecosystems, is vital for humans, too.

Let us take a look at some of the reasons why it is important to protect endangered species:

1. Ecological Importance 

Healthy ecosystems depend on plant and animal species as their foundations. When a species becomes endangered, it is a sign that the ecosystem is slowly falling apart. Each species that is lost triggers the loss of other species within its ecosystem. Humans depend on healthy ecosystems to purify our environment. Without healthy forests, grasslands, rivers, oceans and other ecosystems, we will not have clean air, water, or land. If we allow our environment to become contaminated, we risk our own health.

2. Medical

Of the medicines currently available, about 50% are derived from natural products. At least 120 chemical compounds, derived from 90 plant species, are important drugs currently in use in many countries around the world. By loosing biodiversity, we are losing the chance to discover new medicines that could end the suffering of millions of people and save national economies billions of dollars each year.

3. Aesthetics

The natural world is beautiful and valued for its aesthetic appeal. Loss of biodiversity impoverishes our world of natural beauty and wonder, both for ourselves and for the future generations.

4. Recreational 

National parks and game reserves uplifting the socio-economic environment of their respective countries. They are bring people together, and further education and environmental conservation. 

5. Agriculture

Many of the benefits of biodiversity accrue to agriculture itself. For example, the marine environment is a source for insecticides. Others benefits include crop pollination, soil fertility services provided by microorganisms, and pest control services provided by insects and wildlife. Biodiversity loss has important implications for agriculture.

6. Poverty Alleviation 

Biological diversity provides the world's population, particularly the poor, with food, medicines, building materials, bioenergy and protection against natural disasters.

7. Pollination of Crops and Natural Vegetation

Many flowering plants rely on animals to help them mate by ensuring fertilization. Bees, butterflies, beetles, hummingbirds, bats, and other animals transport pollen, the male reproductive structures, from one plant to another, with enormous benefits to humanity. 

8. Preservation of Soil Fertility

Soils, with their active microbial and animal populations, have the capacity to supply adequate nutrients to plants in suitable proportions. Natural forest soil had a higher content of total nutrients and biomass.

REFERENCES :  www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org

Let us take a look at what our social media family has to say:

Facebook: 

Stefan Sommer -

" Because they are our life support system. Without them we are nothing." 

Tasha Tarasco -

" Variety of Wildlife is beautiful why not protect it "

Instagram:

@Souqbazaars -

" How can we expect the best for our children, when we cannot even care for our Earth "

@_real_rizwana -

" It's each of our duty to protect the environment and co-habitat on Earth peacefully " 

@rkonlineconsulting -

" It is our duty to make sure all species are protected for the future " 

@rewireyourmindsetstrategy - 

" If animals/trees die, then it'll be end of human life. We need them, they don't need us " 

@its_winnie_cheche -

" Because extinction means losing them forever "

@aisha_bagha -

" To protect the fragile ecosystem " 

Chapter 1 : ENDANGERED SPECIES

Endangered species is a term used for species considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. 

Species become endangered for two main reasons: loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation. We'll take a look at these reason further in our next article. For now take a look at this list of endangered species as at 2022. Does your favorite animal fall into it? 

According to Earth.Org here are the 10 most endangered species by end 2022: 

1. Amur Leopard 

Between 2014 and 2015, there were only around 92 individuals left in their natural range. This number is now estimated to be around 84. They are extremely vulnerable to poachers, who kill them for their coats and bones, the latter of which is sold for use in traditional Asian medicine. They are at risk of habitat loss due to natural and man-made fires. Climate change is also leading to a decrease in prey availability. 

2. Rhino

Rhinos are one of the most poached animals on the planet. Their horns are used in traditional Chinese medicine and displayed as a symbol and demonstration of wealth. Because of poaching, three of the five species of rhinos are among the most endangered animals in 2022: the black rhino, the Javan rhino and the Sumatran rhino. The Javan rhino is the closest to extinction with only around 60 individuals left, all of which are in Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia, while black rhino population is estimated to be around 5,500 individuals. 

3. Orangutan

The two kinds of orangutan – the Bornean and the Sumatran Orangutan – have both experienced sharp declines in populations. A century ago there were probably more than 230,000 orangutans in total, but the Bornean orangutan is now estimated at about 104,700 based on updated geographic range and the Sumatran about 13,846. They are primarily threatened by habitat loss from human-caused deforestation for palm oil. 

4. Gorilla

There are two species of gorillas, the Eastern gorilla and the Western gorilla, which both have two subspecies. Three out of four are Critically Endangered. The only one that isn’t is the Mountain Gorilla, a subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla, which is considered Endangered. Like many endangered animals, their decline is mostly due to poaching, habitat loss, disease and human conflict. 

5. Saola

Often called the Asian unicorn, the saola is one of the rarest mammals on the planet and for this reason, it makes the list of the world’s most endangered animals in 2022.

6. Vaquita 

Both the smallest and most endangered marine mammal in the world. Their biggest threat is from the illegal fishing of totoaba, a large fish in demand because of its swim bladder. Vaquitas accidentally end up entangled in the gillnets set for totoaba and drown because they can no longer swim to the surface to breathe. 

7. Sunda Tiger

Of all the big cats, tigers are the closest to extinction. with fewer than 3,900 tigers remaining in the wild, they exist in only 4% of their historic range. Sunda tigers in particular are especially vulnerable. Despite increased efforts in tiger conservation – including strengthening law enforcement and anti poaching capacity – a substantial market remains in Sumatra and other parts of Asia for tiger parts and products. 

8. Yangtze Finless Porpoise 

Finless porpoises live in the Yangtze River in China. Unfortunately, they are vulnerable to fishing; even though they are not directly targeted by fishermen, large numbers of the species die when they become accidentally entangled in fishing gear. The waters they live in are also constantly busy with fishermen and people using the waterways to move around, so they get injured and killed by boats and ships. Additionally, their waters are also affected by high levels of toxic pollutants.

9 Turtle

Hunting is one of the biggest threats to sea turtles, with poachers targeting their eggs, shells, meat and skin. They are also at risk from habitat loss, bycatch and pollution as well as climate change. Sand temperature determines the sex of hatchlings with eggs developing as females in warmer temperatures. That means even small temperature changes could skew the sex ratio of populations. 

10. Elephant 

Last on the list of the world’s most endangered animals in 2022 are elephants. While some populations of African elephants are increasing, primarily in southern Africa, numbers are continuing to fall in other areas, particularly in central Africa and parts of East Africa. With an estimated 415,000 elephants left on the continent, the species is regarded as vulnerable, although certain populations are being poached towards extinction. 

Thank you to our Instagram Family for sharing a list of animals according to them are facing endangerment. Let us try our best to raise awareness, share information and help save the animals. 

Rhino (zainab_akadir) (@dafina_bread)

Mountain Gorillas & Thompsons Gazelle in Kenya (aisha_bagha)

Giant Panda (hopeful.living.ngo)

Horses & Lions (_real_rizwana)

White Tigers (@leafypaths_freya)

REFERENCES

www.earth.org