Endangered animals - What are the main reasons?

Why are so many endangered animals across the world? Well there are many factors responsible for this condition, but all these factors have the same origin, namely us, the humans. We are really the ones responsible for major decline in population of many animal species because we believe that this world belongs only to us. We adjust the world like we feel is right, caring only for ourselves, forgetting that we cannot survive alone in this planet. Mother Nature has made interconnection between all species as the primary factor for survival of life on our planet. This interconnection between species created perfectly functioning "circle of life" where every living species plays its own role, that no matter how small it seems still adds to perfection of this circle. The less species remain the less perfect circle of life would be, and current number of endangered animals across the globe is really big reason to worry.

Mammals, birds, reptiles, they are all equally important in circle of life but many of these species are endangered, heading for extinction unless something is done. Why is this happening? Like I said before we are the ones mostly responsible for this situation. The most important factor that threatens survival of so many animals is habitat loss. As our population keeps on growing we need more and more space for our houses, farms, buildings, industries, and animals are standing on our way. In our selfishness and blindness we are destroying their habitats because we think only how to satisfy our current needs. This is really the main problem of humanity, the fact that we very rarely think about the future. What will we leave to our children if we continue with destruction of our planet? What will happen to circle of life if many animals go extinct? How will humanity survive without animals and plants?

Very few people think of these problems, and even fewer number is actually doing something to make the difference. We created terrible environmental mess mainly because we think we are smarter than nature. And the result of this? Whole bunch of different environmental problems that are becoming more and more serious. We got different forms of pollution, invasive species, illegal hunting, and of course the biggest threat of them all - climate change. Habitat loss is still the biggest factor responsible for so many endangered animals but climate change is becoming more and more serious threat.

Mountain gorillas are among world's most endangered animals

Global warming impact is becoming stronger and stronger which gives animals very little time to adapt to changed weather conditions. If global warming continues to strengthen its impact even further even the "strongest won't survive" because not even strong would be good enough. Seems like almost every day we got new member on endangered species list. Polar bears are probably the most famous among endangered animals but some other "famous" animals are also under risk of going extinct like pandas, gorillas, tigers, some penguin species, and many other. As the years go by list gets bigger and bigger.

Though conservation efforts are increasing they are not enough to cope with ever-increasing number of different environmental problems. Threat to animals survival isn't coming just from habitat loss, it is also coming from pollution, climate change, and many other problems. This makes conservation efforts almost impossible because just when you think one problem is solved, the other one, more serious pops out, and here we go again.

It is really good that animals can't talk because if they could talk they would certainly not have kind words to say to us. Perhaps it is the curse of this planet that we are the only creatures blessed with superior intellect because we are using it mainly for destruction. We should be protecting our planet, and keeping it healthy not only for us but also for plants and animals. Unless we do something to clean this terrible environmental mess our future would be anything but happy. Just imagine how sad would world look like without tigers, lions, elephants, monkeys...Would this be the world you would like to live in?

Siberian tigers disappearing fast

The beautiful Siberian tigers are in real danger of becoming extinct. Siberian Tiger Monitoring Programme says in its report how Siberian tiger population has declined significantly as the researchers counted only 56 tigers in a monitoring area of 9,000 square miles. In 2005 for instance the total number of Siberian tigers across their entire range was estimated at approximately 500 individuals. The only good news (if there is any story) is that deep snows during the last winter may have forced tigers to reduce the total travel amount, making them less active and therefore less detectable to scientists so perhaps the actual number is a bit bigger than scientists believe it is.

The two main reasons for this decline are the usual ones, namely habitat loss and poaching. These two have to be stopped, and if we look at the numbers of remaining Siberian tigers we can easy see that current conservation efforts are not enough to prevent these beautiful animals from going extinct. Unless we see some fundamental changes in law enforcement regulations, improvements in habitat protection, and a strengthening of the protected areas network to help protect the remaining tiger population, these proud animals will perish from the face of the Earth.

Siberian tigers will go extinct without some drastic improvement in tiger conservation efforts.

Deforestation and hunting - Two big threats for lemurs

Madagascar is the real oasis of life with many endemic species that can be find only here, and nowhere else in the world. This is because Madagascar was isolated from landmasses for more than 160 million years, and these conditions enabled development of unique species on this beautiful island. However, many of animals that have their habitats on this beautiful island are facing extinction, mostly because of deforestation, and partially also because of the hunting and poaching. Six lemur species have already been listed as critically endangered, and things will become even worse if current deforestation rates continue.

Madagascar was once heavily forested but in the last 50 years or so about 90% of forests on Madagascar have been destroyed because of logging, mining and farming. These forests are habitats to many species, among which are also famous lemurs that are finding it harder and harder to survive in these new conditions.

After the short period of peace the loggers and poachers have yet again continued to threaten the survival of lemur population. Deforestation still remains the largest cause for fears about lemurs going extinct but their hunting has also become large problem in the last few years, since many endangered animals, lemurs included, are being hunted for bushmeat (mostly because of recent droughts) or to be sold at restaurants as delicacies.

Madagascar is oasis of unique life on this planet, and it is more than obvious that current conservation efforts are not enough to protect many endemic animals from going extinct. We are not talking only about lemurs but many other animals that live on this island and depend on forests to survive. This year alone an estimated $100m worth of hardwood has been cut down and sold, mostly to China to be turned into furniture.

Is furniture really more important than animals?

Demand for ivory is still huge in China

China has very long negative tradition as the world's largest black market for ivory, and current China's economic boom has made things even worse because better economic standard means more money for traditionally highly valued ivory, especially among its new rich class that seek for traditional African ornaments made from ivory, and are ready to pay top price to get their hands on precious ivory.

Chinese strict laws that prohibit illegal ivory look strong only on paper because in many Chinese cities you can find numerous stalls that openly sell ivory that has not been certified. Most of ivory business in China is happening in city Guangzhou that has over the years become traditional get together place for dozens of thousands of merchants. Many environmentalists believe that this city is the headquarter of illegal ivory trade in the world.

Chinese are not only buying ivory in their homeland, many of them by ivory directly in Africa, for instance different latest reports suggest that in many African countries more than half of the ivory is being sold to Chinese people. China today presents the biggest threat to the global survival of the elephants, their traditional demand for ivory isn't slowing down, and since we are talking here about the country that has over 1,3 billion people the demand for ivory will likely remain huge, if not become even bigger due to better economic standard.

African elephants are still not on the brink of extinction but if China's illegal ivory market continues to grow, many elephants will pay with their lives the greedy need of some rich Chinese that wanted to have certain ornamental object made of ivory.

China is aware how severe this situation really is, and last year Chinese were even allowed to import a 62-tonne batch of elephant tusks legally into China to prevent illegal poaching in Africa. This move could have negative consequences, and instead of stopping poaching it could make it even worse because this would likely fuel a massive appetite for ivory there, increasing already high demand that can be satisfied by legal ivory trade.

And while we wait for the solution of this very complex problem organized poaching gangs are still heavily hunting and killing African elephants.

Demand for ivory in China is constantly high.

Koalas under serious threat of extinction

Koalas are definitely among the most lovable animals but if current conditions continue in about 30 years koalas could disappear from the face of the planet. There are different reasons why koalas are lately experiencing serious decline in population, and three most important reasons are climate change, habitat loss as the result of infrastructural development, and bushfires.

The Australian Koala foundation has in its latest report stated some really alarming news, namely that koala population in wild could have dropped by more than 50% in the last six years. They have also stated that previous estimates about the around 100,000 koalas in the wild were wrong, and that today there are only around 45,000 koalas still left in the wild.

Current numbers suggest that koalas are heading for extinction. There are only around 45,000 koalas still left in the wild.

This number of koalas still left in the wild was calculated by collected field data from 1,800 sites and 80,000 trees. The current numbers are definitely alarming, and if we want to stop further decline in koala population an immediate action is required.

Koalas simply cannot cope with loss of habitat caused by deforestation, and dryer conditions caused by climate change that have made their food more scarce and lower nutrition value.

Perhaps the most alarming factor in this story is that koalas haven't still been listed as the endangered by Australian government, and the current reports suggest that it will take at least another year before this happens. Who knows how much koalas will pay with their lives this negligence in the meantime?